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Electromagnetic fields alter the motility of metastatic breast cancer cells
A Garg A, T Jones H, S Moss M, S Mishra, K Kaul, , J Ferree, ...
Published in Nature Research
2019
PMID: 31428691
Volume: 2
   
Issue: 1
Pages: 1 - 16
Abstract
Interactions between cells and their environment influence key physiologic processes such as their propensity to migrate. However, directed migration controlled by extrinsically applied electrical signals is poorly understood. Using a novel microfluidic platform, we found that metastatic breast cancer cells sense and respond to the net direction of weak (∼100 µV cm−1), asymmetric, non-contact induced Electric Fields (iEFs). iEFs inhibited EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) activation, prevented formation of actin-rich filopodia, and hindered the motility of EGF-treated breast cancer cells. The directional effects of iEFs were nullified by inhibition of Akt phosphorylation. Moreover, iEFs in combination with Akt inhibitor reduced EGF-promoted motility below the level of untreated controls. These results represent a step towards isolating the coupling mechanism between cell motility and iEFs, provide valuable insights into how iEFs target multiple diverging cancer cell signaling mechanisms, and demonstrate that electrical signals are a fundamental regulator of cancer cell migration. © 2019, The Author(s).
About the journal
JournalCommunications biology
PublisherNature Research
ISSN23993642
Open AccessNo