Activation of the JNK pathway by nanosecond pulsed electric fields

► Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) are known effective for cancer therapy. ► We showed the rapid induction of the JNK pathway by nsPEFs. ► nsPEFs induced phosphorylation of JNK1, MKK4, and c-Jun. ► nsPEFs induced the elevation of c-jun and c-fos mRNA levels. Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) are increasingly recognized as a novel and unique tool in various life science fields, including electroporation and cancer therapy, although their mode of action in cells remains largely unclear. Here, we show that nsPEFs induce strong and transient activation of a signaling pathway involving c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Application of nsPEFs to HeLa S3 cells rapidly induced phosphorylation of JNK1 and MKK4, which is located immediately upstream of JNK in this signaling pathway. nsPEF application also elicited increased phosphorylation of c-Jun protein and dramatically elevated c-jun and c-fos mRNA levels. nsPEF-inducible events downstream of JNK were markedly suppressed by the JNK inhibitor SP600125, which confirmed JNK-dependency of these events in this pathway. Our results provide novel mechanistic insights into the mode of nsPEF action in human cells.