Investigation of Combined Effect of Pulse Electric Field and Transforming Growth Factor Beta-3 (TGF-B3) on Proliferation and Spreading of the Human Colon Adenocarcinoma HT29 Cell Line

Pulse electric field (PEF) is a technique of forming transient pores in the cell membrane by exposing it to a short-lived high voltage electric field. In addition to having the effect of opening pores in the membrane, PEF can alter the cytoskeletal restructuring of the cell, which has an impact on cell morphological properties and signalling pathways. There is some evidence that transforming growth factor-beta ($\text{TGF}-\beta$) can influence cellular behaviors. Similarly, PEF was found to modulate the activity of cells. However, the combined effect of PEF and $\text{TGF}-\beta$ on cellular activity has not yet been studied, which may further strengthen the cellular processes for the application of wound healing. The aim of this study ought to be to investigate the effect of PEF in combination with $\text{TGF}-\beta\mathrm{s}$ on cellular activity, such as proliferation and in vitro spread of the HT29 cell line. In a medium supplemented with $\text{TGF}-\beta3$ for 72 hours, cells were electrically treated and cultured. The cells were harvested after 72 hours in culture and counted for study of cell proliferation. For cell length study, images of the cells were taken after 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours of culture. As compared to the non-PEF treated (control) groups, PEF treatment was found to increase the proliferation rate and spreading properties of the cells with $\text{TGF}-\beta3$ supplement by 50.2 percent. The findings of this research have thus shown that the use of PEF (in the presence of $\text{TGF}-\beta3$) has possible implications for the application of wound healing by increasing the rate of proliferation and spread of cells.