Biomedicines (Nov 2020)

Continuous Electrical Stimulation Affects Initial Growth and Proliferation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

  • Peer W. Kämmerer,
  • Vivien Engel,
  • Franz Plocksties,
  • Anika Jonitz-Heincke,
  • Dirk Timmermann,
  • Nadja Engel,
  • Bernhard Frerich,
  • Rainer Bader,
  • Daniel G. E. Thiem,
  • Anna Skorska,
  • Robert David,
  • Bilal Al-Nawas,
  • Michael Dau

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8110482
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 11
p. 482

Abstract

Read online

The aim of the study was to establish electrical stimulation parameters in order to improve cell growth and viability of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC) when compared to non-stimulated cells in vitro. hADSC were exposed to continuous electrical stimulation with 1.7 V AC/20 Hz. After 24, 72 h and 7 days, cell number, cellular surface coverage and cell proliferation were assessed. In addition, cell cycle analysis was carried out after 3 and 7 days. After 24 h, no significant alterations were observed for stimulated cells. At day 3, stimulated cells showed a 4.5-fold increase in cell numbers, a 2.7-fold increase in cellular surface coverage and a significantly increased proliferation. Via cell cycle analysis, a significant increase in the G2/M phase was monitored for stimulated cells. Contrastingly, after 7 days, the non-stimulated group exhibited a 11-fold increase in cell numbers and a 4-fold increase in cellular surface coverage as well as a significant increase in cell proliferation. Moreover, the stimulated cells displayed a shift to the G1 and sub-G1 phase, indicating for metabolic arrest and apoptosis initiation. In accordance, continuous electrical stimulation of hADSC led to a significantly increased cell growth and proliferation after 3 days. However, longer stimulation periods such as 7 days caused an opposite result indicating initiation of apoptosis.

Keywords