Cx43 in the damage of iPSC-CM induced by S-band and X-band microwave exposure

Abstract

Abstract Background The heart is one of the major organs affected by microwave radiation and its effects have been extensively studied. In order to make the research model closer to human, we used iPSC-CM as the cell injury model to explore the biological effect of iPSC-CM injury after microwave radiation. Results First, the iPSC-CM was continuously cultured for 7 d after recovery, which was the best state for the cell model establishment. Second, to model the damage, cells were separated into four groups and exposed to single or composite S- and X-band microwave radiation sources with an average power density of 30 mW/cm2. After that, ELISA was used to detect the contents of myocardial enzymes and injury markers in the culture medium, and it was discovered that the contents increased after radiation. TEM and SEM were used to examine the aberrant ultrastructure. The abnormal changes in mitochondrial structure, an increase in the number of autophagosome-like bodies, and cell membrane rupture were discovered to be the most common signs of cell ultrastructural damage. The OCR was used to assess mitochondrial respiration. Mitochondrial function was discovered to be aberrant, with lower respiratory rate and ATP production. Wb, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence were used to detect expression and distribution of Cx43. The results showed that the expression of Cx43 was decreased, and the distribution of Cx43 at the junction of cell-cell was decreased. The composite exposure group was more severely harmed than the single exposure group. Conclusions Single or composite exposure to 30 mW/cm2 of S- and X-band microwave caused damage of structure and function of iPSC-CM, primarily mitochondrial damage, with a dose-dependent effect. The iPSC-CM is of great value in the research and treatment of heart diseases, especially in the research of microwave-induced cardiac damage.