In Situ Investigation of Intercellular Signal Transduction Based on Detection of Extracellular pH and ROS by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

Anal Chem. 2023 May 16;95(19):7468-7474. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04655. Epub 2023 May 3.

Abstract

Intercellular signal transduction plays an important role in the regulation of biological activities. Herein, a Transwell chamber-based two-layer device combined with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) technology has been proposed for in situ investigation of intercellular signal transduction. The cells in the device were cultured on two layers: the lower layer was for signaling cells, and the upper layer was for signal-receiving cells. The extracellular pH (pHe) and ROS (reactive oxygen species, ROSe) were in situ monitored by SECM potentiometric mode and SECM-MPSW (multipotential step waveform), respectively. When the signaling cells, including MCF-7, HeLa, and HFF cells, were electrically stimulated, the ROS release of the signal-receiving cells was promoted. By detecting the pH at the cell surface, it was found that more H+ generated by the signaling cells and two cell layers at a shorter distance could both cause the signal-receiving cells to release more ROS, revealing that H+ is one of the signaling molecules of intercellular communication. This SECM-based in situ monitoring strategy provides an effective way to investigate intercellular signal transduction and explore the corresponding mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Communication*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Microscopy, Electrochemical, Scanning
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species