title: A cold plasma jet accelerates wound healing in a murine model of full-thickness skin wounds.
abstract: Cold plasma has been successfully applied in several fields of medicine that require, for example, pathogen inactivation, implant functionalization or alteration of cellular activity. Previous studies have provided evidence that plasma supports the healing of wounds owing to its beneficial mixtures of reactive species and modulation of inflammation in cells and tissues. To investigate the wound healing activity of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet in vivo, we examined the cold plasma's efficacy on dermal regeneration in a murine model of dermal full-thickness ear wound. Over 14 days, female mice received daily plasma treatment. Quantitative analysis by transmitted light microscopy demonstrated a significantly accelerated wound re-epithelialization at days 3-9 in comparison with untreated controls. In vitro, cold plasma altered keratinocyte and fibroblast migration, while both cell types showed significant stimulation resulting in accelerated closure of gaps in scratch assays. This plasma effect correlated with the downregulation of the gap junctional protein connexin 43 which is thought to be important in the regulation of wound healing. In addition, plasma induced profound changes in adherence junctions and cytoskeletal dynamics as shown by downregulation of E-cadherin and several integrins as well as actin reorganization. Our results theorize cold plasma to be a beneficial treatment option supplementing existing wound therapies.
authors: Plasma Life Science, Leibniz-Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Greifswald, Germany.
authors: Anke
authors: A
authors: Schmidt
authors: ZIK Plasmatis, Leibniz-Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Greifswald, Germany.
authors: Sander
authors: S
authors: Bekeschus
authors: ZIK Plasmatis, Leibniz-Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Greifswald, Germany.
authors: Kristian
authors: K
authors: Wende
authors: Institute for Experimental Surgery, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Vollmar
authors: Plasma Life Science, Leibniz-Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Greifswald, Germany.|ZIK Plasmatis, Leibniz-Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Greifswald, Germany.|Department of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: von Woedtke
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D017629:Gap Junctions; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D062326:Re-Epithelialization / Q000187:drug effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; D018031:Connexin 43; D016023:Integrins; D058626:Plasma Gases; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: murine wound model; plasma medicine; proteomics; reactive oxygen and nitrogen species; redox homoeostasis