Non-contact electric fields’ effect on TNF-a in glioblastoma cell line: An experimental study

The experimental findings demonstrate that the non-contact electric field successfully triggers key cellular responses in the U87-MG glioblastoma cell line. Specifically, there was a visible increase of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-\alpha) after just 24 hours of exposure across all tested voltages (10, 30, and 50 Vpp). This initial surge is significant, as established electric field therapies are known to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), which involves the stimulation of inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α. This mechanism is thought to originate from endoplasmic reticulum stress. Furthermore, pathways downstream of TNF-α are believed to cause apoptosis, a desired process of physiological cell death. While the TNF-α level decreased after 24 hours, this reduction might be associated with the elevation of apoptosis markers, such as Annexin V, observed in studies of related electric field therapies. These promising initial biological insights confirm that the ECCT device engages important therapeutic pathways, underscoring the necessity for future research to fully elucidate the exact biomolecular pathway involved.