Pulsed Electric Field-Induced Ablation of Atherosclerotic Plaque-Forming Cells: A Preliminary In Vitro Investigation.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Cardiology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, No. 24, Fukang Road, Tianjin 300192, China.
- 2School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22, Qixiangtai Road, Tianjin 300070, China.
- 3Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, No. 24, Fukang Road, Tianjin 300192, China.
- 4Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No. 236, Baidi Road, Tianjin 300192, China.
- 5Clinical Medicine College of Tianjin Medical University, No. 22, Qixiangtai Road, Tianjin 300070, China.
- 6Radiology of Beijing United Family Hospital of Integrative Medicine Co., Ltd., No. 46, West Headquarters Hutong, Beijing 100016, China.
Abstract
Background
Pulsed electric field (PEF) has been investigated as a local ablation modality in various biomedical applications. Atherosclerotic plaques are composed of pathological cells, including macrophages, vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and foam cells. The in vitro ablation effects of PEF on these plaque-forming cells remain incompletely characterized.Methods
Mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages, MOVAS SMCs, and foam cells derived from both lines were treated with PEF (250-1000 V/cm). Cell death was assessed by live-dead staining. Surface ultrastructural changes were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Membrane phosphatidylserine externalization was evaluated by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining. Expression changes in apoptosis-associated proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, Cytochrome C) were measured by Western blot. Secretion of selected cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, TGF-β) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 24 h.Results
PEF induced dose-dependent reductions in viability in all tested cell types. SEM revealed pronounced membrane ultrastructural changes, including disruption of the surface meshwork and pore-like features. The proportion of Annexin V-positive cells increased after PEF treatment. The expression levels of apoptosis-associated proteins and their statistical significance varied by cell type and time point. No statistically significant differences were detected in the selected cytokines at 24 h under the tested conditions.Conclusion
Under the tested in vitro conditions, PEF induced dose-dependent ablation effects on atherosclerotic plaque-forming cells, accompanied by membrane ultrastructural alterations and increased Annexin V-positive cell proportions. These findings provide preliminary in vitro evidence warranting further investigation in more physiologically relevant models.
Related
- Is Narrative Enhancement Possible in Healthy Aging? A Preliminary Investigation into the Effects of Advanced Training Activities.
- Anti-atherosclerotic effects of Allium hookeri and its mechanism in high fat/high cholesterol-induced obese C57BL/6 mice
- Mechanistic Investigation of Cryptotanshinone and Curcumin Combination in Attenuating BVDV-1-Induced Injury in Bovine Ovarian Granulosa Cells.
- Investigation of inflammatory mechanisms induced by mechlorethamine in mouse ear.
- Stress-induced dorsal striatal dopamine release is associated with changes in functional connectivity to the prefrontal cortex in nicotine-dependent individuals—a preliminary report
BibTeX
@article{jing2026pulsed,
title = {{Pulsed Electric Field-Induced Ablation of Atherosclerotic Plaque-Forming Cells: A Preliminary In Vitro Investigation.}},
author = {Yongle Jing and Zhixiao Xue and Xinwei Cui and Yuli Wu and Xuying Ye and Chengzhi Lu and Huijuan Yin and Manxi Liu and Xiaoqiang Sun and Ziyi Zhang},
journal = {Journal of cardiovascular development and disease},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jcdd13100515},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930911},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Pulsed Electric Field-Induced Ablation of Atherosclerotic Plaque-Forming Cells: A Preliminary In Vitro Investigation.
AU - Yongle Jing
AU - Zhixiao Xue
AU - Xinwei Cui
AU - Yuli Wu
AU - Xuying Ye
AU - Chengzhi Lu
AU - Huijuan Yin
AU - Manxi Liu
AU - Xiaoqiang Sun
AU - Ziyi Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Journal of cardiovascular development and disease
DO - 10.3390/jcdd13100515
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930911
AB - Background Pulsed electric field (PEF) has been investigated as a local ablation modality in various biomedical applications. Atherosclerotic plaques are composed of pathological cells, including macrophages, vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and foam cells. The in vitro ablation effects of PEF on these plaque-forming cells remain incompletely characterized.Methods Mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages, MOVAS SMCs, and foam cells derived from both lines were treated with PEF (250-1000 V/cm). Cell death was assessed by live-dead staining. Surface ultrastructural changes were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Membrane phosphatidylserine externalization was evaluated by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining. Expression changes in apoptosis-associated proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, Cytochrome C) were measured by Western blot. Secretion of selected cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, TGF-β) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 24 h.Results PEF induced dose-dependent reductions in viability in all tested cell types. SEM revealed pronounced membrane ultrastructural changes, including disruption of the surface meshwork and pore-like features. The proportion of Annexin V-positive cells increased after PEF treatment. The expression levels of apoptosis-associated proteins and their statistical significance varied by cell type and time point. No statistically significant differences were detected in the selected cytokines at 24 h under the tested conditions.Conclusion Under the tested in vitro conditions, PEF induced dose-dependent ablation effects on atherosclerotic plaque-forming cells, accompanied by membrane ultrastructural alterations and increased Annexin V-positive cell proportions. These findings provide preliminary in vitro evidence warranting further investigation in more physiologically relevant models.
SN - 2308-3425
ER -