An Extremely Weak Electric Current System Induces Anti-apoptotic Effects and Anti-necrotic Effects in Living Cells

Several kinds of cell therapies have already been introduced in clinics. Inducing anti-cell death effects in prepared cells might improve the outcomes of cell therapies. A previously established technique suppressed the oxidation of coffee and maintained the freshness of vegetables using an electric current system. In the present study, we examined whether the adjusted electric current system could induce anti-cell death effects in living cells. NIH3T3 cells were cultured under regular conditions with or without treatment with the electric current system. BrdU uptake and cell counting assays revealed the electric current system did not inhibit cell proliferation. When normal cells were exposed to serum starvation, cells became apoptotic and necrotic. However, apoptosis and necrosis was prevented by the electric current system. Notably, autophagy was also induced by serum starvation, but was not prevented by the electric system. PCR array results identified a panel of anti-apoptotic genes that were upregulated in cells treated with the electric current system, including Hells, which was upregulated 400-fold in the experimental groups. In conclusion, here we demonstrated that the adjusted electric current system induced anti-apoptotic and anti-necrotic effects in living cells. The system is a simple and safe method that is easy to introduce in the clinics. These findings may contribute to further improvement of clinical cell therapies.