title: Influence of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma on cellular structures and processes in human keratinocytes (HaCaT).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma in dermatology to improve the healing of chronic wounds is a promising application. The antimicrobial properties of physical plasma offer on the one hand the killing of bacteria, which are often a problem in chronic wounds. On the other hand, plasma can activate cells which are involved in the wound closure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To guarantee a safe application it is essential to understand basic interactions between physical plasma and human skin cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study, human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) were directly plasma treated with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma source and effects on viability, DNA, cell cycle, intracellular concentration of reactive oxygen species and induction of apoptosis were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A treatment time-dependent loss of recovered adherent HaCaT cells after 24h and a linear increase of DNA damage were observed, which was no longer evident 24h after plasma stimulation, except for long treatment times. An accumulation of HaCaT cells in G2/M phase and a decrease in the G1 phase was caused by DBD plasma. The increasing formation of intracellular ROS is also attributed to plasma treatment. In contrast to other studies we did not find clear evidences for apoptosis in adherent HaCaT cells. A culture medium exchange subsequently after plasma treatment weakened the observed effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DBD plasma treatment resulted in oxidative stress in human keratinocytes which is related to deficient cell performance.
authors.affiliation: Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University, Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Strasse 15a, Greifswald, Germany. susanne.blackert@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blackert
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haertel
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wende
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: von Woedtke
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindequist
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species