Restoration of DNA integrity and the cell cycle by electric stimulation in planarian tissues damaged by ionizing radiation.

ABSTRACT: Exposure to high levels of ionizing γ radiation leads to irreversible DNA damage and cell death. Here, we establish that exogenous application of electric stimulation enables cellular plasticity and the re-establishment of stem cell activity in tissues damaged by ionizing radiation. We show that subthreshold direct current stimulation (DCS) rapidly restores pluripotent stem cell populations previously eliminated by lethally γ-irradiated tissues of the planarian flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea. Our findings reveal that DCS enhances DNA repair, transcriptional activity, and cell cycle entry in post-mitotic cells. These responses involve rapid increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration through the activation of L-type Cav channels and intracellular Ca2+ stores, leading to the activation of imm

SUBMITTER: Davidian D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9264365 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature