Recent progress in molecular bioeffects of ultrasound: From apoptosis to gene response

Interest in molecular imaging and therapy has grown tremendously, and ultrasound has been recognized as a useful tool not only for imaging but also for modern therapy. To understand how therapeutic ultrasound works, it is necessary to understand its biological effects at the molecular level. Here, the biological effects of ultrasound are reviewed, focusing on ultrasound-induced apoptosis, gene transfer, change in gene expression, and gene regulation. Studies have shown that ultrasound can induce apoptosis where certain conditions can lead to optimal apoptosis induction. Ultrasound-mediated gene transfer in different cell lines and tissues has been reported. Moreover, a variety of genes can be up-regulated or down-regulated by sonication. In light of these data, it is expected that ultrasound will play a cardinal role in the development of molecular therapy in the future.