Cell type-specific suppression of mechanosensitive genes by audible sound stimulation

Abstract

Audible sound is a ubiquitous environmental factor in nature that transmits oscillatory compressional pressure through the substances. To investigate the property of the sound as a mechanical stimulus for cells, an experimental system was set up using 94.0 dB sound which transmits approximately 10 mPa pressure to the cultured cells. Based on research on mechanotransduction and ultrasound effects on cells, gene responses to the audible sound stimulation were analyzed by varying several sound parameters: frequency, wave form, composition, and exposure time. Real-time quantitative PCR analyses revealed a distinct suppressive effect for several mechanosensitive and ultrasound-sensitive genes that were triggered by sounds. The effect was clearly observed in a wave form- and pressure level-specific manner, rather than the frequency, and persisted for several hours. At least two mechanisms are likely to be involved in this sound response: transcriptional control and RNA degradation. ST2 stromal cells and C2C12 myoblasts exhibited a robust response, whereas NIH3T3 cells were partially and NB2a neuroblastoma cells were completely insensitive, suggesting a cell type-specific response to sound. These findings reveal a cell-level systematic response to audible sound and uncover novel relationships between life and sound.

Sound waves affect the total flavonoid contents in Medicago sativa, Brassica oleracea and Raphanus sativus sprouts

“…In addition, there were best sound frequencies for the regulation of gene expression related to ethylene biosynthesis of tomato and ascorbic acid biosynthesis of alfalfa sprout vegetable . Moreover, a recent report suggested that four different types of cells when treated with the same sound wave condition responded differently and the expression of related genes also differed . Therefore, because the growth, development and morphology are different in plants, it is estimated that the expression of related genes for a particular sound wave will change differently.…”

The Effect of Sonication on Bubble Size and Sensory Perception of Carbonated Water to Improve Quality and Consumer Acceptability

“…For medium and large bubbles, these decreased significantly for SP when sonicated (SPS), increased for Ice with sonication (IceS), but no significant difference was found for Nu and NuS. The changes in bubble size distribution may be due to the effect of the pressure caused by the sonication treatment in the bottle due to the energy associated with the wavelength of audible sound waves, which although lower than ultrasound energy, it still alters the media and particles [25,26]. When the pressure in carbonated beverages is higher, the CO 2 solubility increases [27].…”

Effects of sound elements on growth, viability and protein production yield in Escherichia coli

“…This effect has been described in other studies where it was found that higher pressure generates oxidative stress 21 but only cells during the exponential phase are affected. 22,23 It is likely that this response is due to activation of stress-dependent mechanoreceptors 10,20 but possibly only when surpassing a specific high threshold since the response did not appear in the rest of the mild-amplitude treatments.…”

“…More recently, it has been found that frequency has little biological effect compared with other sound elements. 20 Therefore, the discrepancy between optimal conditions and the non-linearity of frequency effect suggests that it is necessary to perform a broad frequency screening as wide as possible.…”