Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) changes gene expression of key molecules of the wound healing machinery and improves wound healing in vitro and in vivo

PLoS One. 2013 Nov 12;8(11):e79325. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079325. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has the potential to interact with tissue or cells leading to fast, painless and efficient disinfection and furthermore has positive effects on wound healing and tissue regeneration. For clinical implementation it is necessary to examine how CAP improves wound healing and which molecular changes occur after the CAP treatment. In the present study we used the second generation MicroPlaSter ß® in analogy to the current clinical standard (2 min treatment time) in order to determine molecular changes induced by CAP using in vitro cell culture studies with human fibroblasts and an in vivo mouse skin wound healing model. Our in vitro analysis revealed that the CAP treatment induces the expression of important key genes crucial for the wound healing response like IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TGF-ß1, TGF-ß2, and promotes the production of collagen type I and alpha-SMA. Scratch wound healing assays showed improved cell migration, whereas cell proliferation analyzed by XTT method, and the apoptotic machinery analyzed by protein array technology, was not altered by CAP in dermal fibroblasts. An in vivo wound healing model confirmed that the CAP treatment affects above mentioned genes involved in wound healing, tissue injury and repair. Additionally, we observed that the CAP treatment improves wound healing in mice, no relevant side effects were detected. We suggest that improved wound healing might be due to the activation of a specified panel of cytokines and growth factors by CAP. In summary, our in vitro human and in vivo animal data suggest that the 2 min treatment with the MicroPlaSter ß® is an effective technique for activating wound healing relevant molecules in dermal fibroblasts leading to improved wound healing, whereas the mechanisms which contribute to these observed effects have to be further investigated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Atmospheric Pressure*
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cold Temperature*
  • Collagen / biosynthesis
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Plasma Gases / pharmacology*
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Cytokines
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Plasma Gases
  • alpha-smooth muscle actin, mouse
  • Collagen

Grants and funding

The MicroPlasTer ß® was developed by the Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) and ADTEC Plasma Technology Co. Ltd., Hiroshima and the MPE provided the MicroPlaSter ß®. ADTEC Plasma Technology Co. Ltd. did not participate in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics contributed to the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, and preparation of the manuscript, but had no financial interest concerning the study.