Abstract
Synchrony between mechanically separated biological systems is well known. We posed the question: can cells induce synchronous behavior in neighboring cells which are mechanically separated and which cannot communicate via chemical or electrical mechanisms. Caco-2 cell cultures were divided into three groups. “Inducer” cells were exposed to H 2O 2. “Detector” cells were placed in separate containers near the inducer cells but were not exposed to H 2O 2. Control cells were exposed to fresh media and were kept in a distant laboratory area. Samples were measured for total protein concentration, NFκB activation and structural changes, 10, 30 and 60 min after exposure respectively. Exposing inducer cells to H 2O 2 resulted in a significant reduction in total protein content (− 50%), an increase in nuclear NFκB activation (+ 38%), and structural damage (56%) compared to controls. There was a similar reduction in total protein content (− 48%), increase in the nuclear fraction of NFκB (+ 35%) and structural damage (25%) in detector cells. These findings provide evidence in support of a non-chemical, non-electrical communication. This signaling system possibly plays a role in synchronous, stimulus-appropriate cell responses to noxious stimuli and may explain a number of cellular behaviors that are hard to explain based only on conventional cell signaling systems.
Published Version
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