Mammalian stem cells reprogramming in response to terahertz radiation

• Published in: PloS one 2010-12, Vol.5 (12), p.e15806-e15806
• Main Authors: Bock, Jonathan, Fukuyo, Yayoi, Kang, Sona, Phipps, M Lisa, Alexandrov, Ludmil B, Rasmussen, Kim Ø, Bishop, Alan R, Rosen, Evan D, Martinez, Jennifer S, Chen, Hou-Tong, Rodriguez, George, Alexandrov, Boian S, Usheva, Anny
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - cytology; Animals; BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; Bioinformatics; Biology; Breathing; Cell cycle; Cell Differentiation; Chemistry; Cloning; Computer Simulation; Cytoplasm - metabolism; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Differentiation (biology); DNA; DNA - genetics; DNA microarrays; DNA probes; Electromagnetic radiation; Endocrinology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genomics; Influence; Irradiation; Laboratories; Mathematical models; Medical schools; Medicine; Mesenchymal stem cells; Mesoderm - metabolism; Mice; Molecular dynamics; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors; Phenotypes; Physics; Polymerase chain reaction; PPAR gamma - metabolism; Proteins; Radiation; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Stem cell transplantation; Stem cells; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - radiation effects; Terahertz Radiation; Transcription (Genetics); Transcription factors
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015806

We report that extended exposure to broad-spectrum terahertz radiation results in specific changes in cellular functions that are closely related to DNA-directed gene transcription. Our gene chip survey of gene expression shows that whereas 89% of the protein coding genes in mouse stem cells do not respond to the applied terahertz radiation, certain genes are activated, while other are repressed. RT-PCR experiments with selected gene probes corresponding to transcripts in the three groups of genes detail the gene specific effect. The response was not only gene specific but also irradiation conditions dependent. Our findings suggest that the applied terahertz irradiation accelerates cell differentiation toward adipose phenotype by activating the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG). Finally, our molecular dynamics computer simulations indicate that the local breathing dynamics of the PPARG promoter DNA coincides with the gene specific response to the THz radiation. We propose that THz radiation is a potential tool for cellular reprogramming.