RF Safe

Non-chemical signalling between mitochondria.

Frontiers in physiology · 2023 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream
MixedLow evidencePaper 6775

Mitochondria stressed with the electron transport chain inhibitor antimycin in one cuvette altered respiration of mitochondria in an adjacent, chemically and physically separate cuvette, decreasing oxygen consumption compared to control (p < 0.0001 for both M…

Study snapshot

PublicationFrontiers in physiology · 2023
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

A wide variety of studies have reported some form of non-chemical or non-aqueous communication between physically isolated organisms, eliciting changes in cellular proliferation, morphology, and/or metabolism. The sources and mechanisms of such signalling pathways are still unknown, but have been postulated to involve vibration, volatile transmission, or light through the phenomenon of ultraweak photon emission. Here, we report non-chemical communication between isolated mitochondria from MCF7 (cancer) and MCF10A (non-cancer) cell lines. We found that mitochondria in one cuvette stressed by an electron transport chain inhibitor, antimycin, alters the respiration of mitochondria in an adjacent, but chemically and physically separate cuvette, significantly decreasing the rate of oxygen consumption compared to a control ( = <0.0001 in MCF7 and MCF10A mitochondria). Moreover, the changes in O-consumption were dependent on the origin of mitochondria (cancer vs. non-cancer) as well as the presence of "ambient" light. Our results support the existence of non-chemical signalling between isolated mitochondria. The experimental design suggests that the non-chemical communication is light-based, although further work is needed to fully elucidate its nature.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro
Effect directionmixed
PopulationIsolated mitochondria from MCF7 (cancer) and MCF10A (non-cancer) cell lines
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureNot supplied
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Mitochondria stressed with the electron transport chain inhibitor antimycin in one cuvette altered respiration of mitochondria in an adjacent, chemically and physically separate cuvette, decreasing oxygen consumption compared to control (p < 0.0001 for both MCF7 and MCF10A mitochondria). The effect depended on mitochondrial origin (cancer vs non-cancer) and the presence of ambient light, and the design suggests a light-based mechanism.

Outcomes measured

  • Mitochondrial respiration
  • Oxygen consumption rate

Limitations

  • Mechanism of the non-chemical communication is not fully elucidated
  • No sample size reported in the provided abstract
  • Exposure characteristics (e.g., light intensity/spectrum) not specified in the provided abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "ambient light / light-based non-chemical signalling (ultraweak photon emission hypothesized)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Isolated mitochondria from MCF7 (cancer) and MCF10A (non-cancer) cell lines",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Mitochondrial respiration",
    "Oxygen consumption rate"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Mitochondria stressed with the electron transport chain inhibitor antimycin in one cuvette altered respiration of mitochondria in an adjacent, chemically and physically separate cuvette, decreasing oxygen consumption compared to control (p < 0.0001 for both MCF7 and MCF10A mitochondria). The effect depended on mitochondrial origin (cancer vs non-cancer) and the presence of ambient light, and the design suggests a light-based mechanism.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Mechanism of the non-chemical communication is not fully elucidated",
    "No sample size reported in the provided abstract",
    "Exposure characteristics (e.g., light intensity/spectrum) not specified in the provided abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "non-chemical signalling",
    "non-aqueous communication",
    "mitochondria",
    "MCF7",
    "MCF10A",
    "antimycin",
    "electron transport chain inhibitor",
    "oxygen consumption",
    "respiration",
    "ambient light",
    "ultraweak photon emission"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1268075
PubMed: 37811497

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library