Role of Reversible and Irreversible Electroporation in Human Glioblastoma Cell Death Pathways

Presenter

Emma M. Gerace

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Govind Srimathveeravalli, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 5, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C30, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 3 (C21-C30) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Facilitated delivery of proteins and small molecules across the cell barrier has long been possible via the use of nanoparticles, microinjection, peptides, and other various methods. However, a unique opportunity to cross the membrane presents itself in the form of electroporation, or the use of electric pulses to form pores in the cell membrane. Key variables of electroporation include voltage, number of pulses, frequency of pulses, and duration of pulses, and determine whether or not the cell is able to reseal the membrane post pore formation. This failure to repair the membrane typically leads to cell death, known as irreversible electroporation (IRE). Such a discovery has since prompted many investigations into IRE as a modern non-thermal ablative technique for killing cells. Reversible electroporation (RE) has also been applied by allowing cells proximal to electrode sites to form pores for only a period of time as a means of delivering payload more locally to the target area, after which pores reseal and the membrane reforms. Though many previous assays have successfully shown the killing ability of electroporation, the types of cell death pathways, such as necrosis, necroptosis, apoptosis, or pyroptosis, that are employed by various electroporation-based techniques are not yet fully elucidated, and more research is required to validate their effects on the cell. Here, we attempt to better characterize cell death pathways in human glioblastoma tumor cells (T98G) using annexin-V, propidium iodide, and caspase marker staining after either IRE, or RE delivery of the cytotoxic molecules calcium, granzyme B, or bleomycin.

Keywords

electroporation, glioblastoma, granzyme B, apoptosis, necrosis

Research Area

Cancer Studies

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