Ca2+ dependence and kinetics of cell membrane repair after electropermeabilization

Electroporation, in particular with nanosecond pulses, is an efficient technique to generate nanometer-size membrane lesions without the use of toxins or other chemicals. The restoration of the membrane integrity takes minutes and is only partially dependent on [Ca2+]. We explored the impact of Ca2+ on the kinetics of membrane resealing by monitoring the entry of a YO-PRO-1 dye (YP) in BPAE and HEK cells. Ca2+ was promptly removed or added after the electric pulse (EP) by a fast-step perfusion. YP entry increased sharply after the EP and gradually slowed down following either a single- or a double-exponential function. In BPAE cells permeabilized by a single 300- or 600-ns EP at 14 kV/cm in a Ca2+-free medium, perfusion with 2 mM of external Ca2+ advanced the 90% resealing and reduced the dye uptake about twofold. Membrane restoration was accomplished by a combination of fast, Ca2+-independent resealing (tau = 13-15 s) and slow, Ca2+-dependent processes (tau -70 s with Ca2+ and - 110 s or more without it). These time constants did not change when the membrane damage was doubled by increasing EP duration from 300 to 600 ns. However, injury by microsecondrange EP (300 and 600 mu s) took longer to recover even when the membrane initially was less damaged, presumably because of the larger size of pores made in the membrane. Full membrane recovery was not prevented by blocking both extra- and intracellular Ca2+ (by loading cells with BAPTA or after Ca2+ depletion from the reticulum), suggesting the recruitment of unknown Ca2+-independent repair mechanisms.

Automated summary

Electroporation, particularly with nanosecond pulses, is an efficient technique for creating nanometer-size membrane lesions without toxins. Membrane restoration involves both fast, calcium-independent resealing and slow, calcium-dependent processes. Additional calcium can advance resealing and reduce dye uptake, while blocking calcium does not prevent full membrane recovery.