title: Effects of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on ß-defensins, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis-related molecules in keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been gaining increasing interest as a new approach for the treatment of skin diseases or wounds. Although this approach has demonstrated promising antibacterial activity, its exact mechanism of action remains unclear. This study explored in vitro and in vivo whether CAP influences gene expression and molecular mechanisms in keratinocytes. Our results revealed that a 2 min CAP treatment using the MicroPlaSter ß in analogy to the performed clinical studies for wound treatment induces expression of IL-8, TGF-ß1, and TGF-ß2. In vitro and in vivo assays indicated that keratinocyte proliferation, migration, and apoptotic mechanisms were not affected by the CAP treatment under the applied conditions. Further, we observed that antimicrobial peptides of the ß-defensin family are upregulated after CAP treatment. In summary, our results suggest that a 2 min application of CAP induces gene expression of key regulators important for inflammation and wound healing without causing proliferation, migration or cell death in keratinocytes. The induction of ß-defensins in keratinocytes describes an absolutely new plasma strategy. Activation of antimicrobial peptides supports the well-known antibacterial effect of CAP treatment, whereas the mechanism of ß-defensin activation by CAP is not investigated so far.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Regensburg, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Regensburg, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landthaler
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Regensburg, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Regensburg, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wacker
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Yang-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Gregor E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Morfill
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University Erlangen, D-91054-Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja-Katrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bosserhoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Regensburg, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karrer
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005355:Fibrosis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D058626:Plasma Gases; D023083:beta-Defensins