Effects of electrical biostimulation and silver ions on porcine fibroblast cells

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 2; p. e0246847
• Main Authors: Zhao, Yuanfeng, Bunch, Thomas D, Isom, S Clay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 10.02.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Amino acids; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial agents; Apoptosis; Biological effects; Biology and Life Sciences; Biopolymer denaturation; Cell death; Cell membranes; Cell metabolism; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA biosynthesis; DNA damage; Electric currents; Electric stimulation; Electrodes; Enzymes; Experiments; Fibroblasts; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Genetic transcription; Health aspects; Hydroxyl radicals; Ions; Mammalian cells; Medical equipment; Medicine and Health Sciences; Metal ions; Morphology; Nucleic acids; Phospholipids; Physical Sciences; Product safety; Protein denaturation; Proteins; Protons; Research and Analysis Methods; Wire; Wound healing; United States; United States > US; Utah
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246847

The medical applications of electrical biostimulation and silver ions have been evaluated in laboratory experiments and clinical studies for more than two decades. Their effects on preventing infection and promoting wound healing have been described. However, little is known about the role of electrical biostimulation and/or silver ion on changes in cellular transcriptome dynamics. To our knowledge, few studies have been conducted to investigate the potential of electrical biostimulation and silver ions in cell reprogramming. Besides, it is essential to assess any possible adverse effects or potential benefits of the silver ions on mammalian cells to address its safety concerns and to improve silver medical products. In this study, we investigated transcriptomic changes in porcine fibroblast cells in response to electrical biostimulation in the presence of silver ions. Exposed cells presented distinct morphological changes after treatment, which was mainly due to the exposure of silver ions rather than the electrical current itself. Gene expression analyses suggested that electrical biostimulation and silver ions did not increase the expression of pluripotency genes. Interestingly, a set of genes related to cellular metabolic processes were differentially expressed after cells were exposed to electrically generated silver ions for 21 hours. We found that 2.00 mg/L of electrically generated silver ion caused an increase of ATP generation and an increase of the total pool of NAD+ and NADH, while ROS production did not change. Aside from toxic effects, the results reported herein demonstrate the alternative effects of silver ions on mammalian cells, especially an oxidative phosphorylation burst. To our knowledge, this response of mammalian cells to silver ions has not been described previously. Although the function of this burst is not understood, it may lead to alterations in cellular activities such as metabolic remodeling and cell reprogramming, and/or serve an as-yet unknown function in neutralization or detoxification of the silver ions within the cells.