Autophagy induced by low-intensity ultrasound combined with microbubbles in human prostate cancer cells PC3 cells and DU145 cells / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of 20 kHz low-intensity ultrasound combined with microbubbles on autophagy of both PC3 cells and DU145 cells. Methods Ultrasound with a frequency of 20 kHz and intensity of 80 mW in continuous wave mode was used. Both PC3 cells and DU145 cells were divided into four groups, including control group (A), microbubbles group (B), ultrasound group (C) and ultrasound combined with microbubbles group (D). Twenty-four hours after treatment, the acid vesicular organelles were detected by acridine orange lfuorescence staining, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe autophagosomes. Results Acridine orange lfuorescence staining showed formation of acid vesicular organelles (AVOs) in the cytoplasm with normal nucleus in both PC3 cells and DU145 cells in group D, while in group A cells were basically normal. Lots of autophagosomes with double-membrane structure were detected by transmission electron microscope in group D. Conclusions Low-frequency and low-intensity ultrasound combined with microbubbles can induced autophagy in both PC3 cells and DU145 cells.