Redox‐regulation of activator protein 1 family members in blood cancer cell lines exposed to cold physical plasma‐treated medium

Abstract

Targeting cancer cells with cold physical plasma emerged as a promising application in plasma medicine. To understand its mode of action with regard to cellular redox‐regulation, two leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and THP‐1 cells) were plasma‐treated and their gene expression was compared. Transcriptomics revealed strikingly similar expression levels of activator protein 1 family members, and of a particular set of genes associated with apoptosis, DNA repair, and antioxidant defense. Interestingly, important constitutively expressed antioxidant transcripts were differently expressed in both cell types which suggest them to be crucial for the Jurkat's high and the THP‐1 cells’ low sensitivity to plasma. Utilizing these targets as biological read outs may help rendering plasmas more effective against different types of cancers.

A Comparison of Floating-Electrode DBD and kINPen Jet: Plasma Parameters to Achieve Similar Growth Reduction in Colon Cancer Cells Under Standardized Conditions

“…Extracellular trap formation following kINPen plasma treatment was not replicated by addition of hydrogen peroxide alone either [99]. In addition, redox enzymes and antioxidant defenses guide diverse cell fates when two different cell types are subjected to the same plasma treatment [100].…”

Gas Plasma-Treated Prostate Cancer Cells Augment Myeloid Cell Activity and Cytotoxicity

“…Similar to CD11b [36,37], CD11c is associated with myeloid cell maturation in both cell types [38,39]. Interestingly, CD11c expression is regulated via AP-1 [40], a transcription factor we have recently described to respond to plasma-derived redox modulation in THP-1 cells [41]. Similarly, de novo CD69 expression is induced during the early activation of myeloid cells [42].…”

Combination Treatment with Cold Physical Plasma and Pulsed Electric Fields Augments ROS Production and Cytotoxicity in Lymphoma

“…Plasmas are multi-component systems generating UV radiation, visible light, electromagnetic fields, thermal radiation, electrons and ions, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) [2]. The latter play a crucial role in mediating the plasma effects in cells [3][4][5] by mediating oxidative modifications [6][7][8] to induce signaling pathways [9][10][11]. First discovered as a new tool for disinfection and wound healing [12][13][14], plasma also demonstrates cytotoxicity towards cancer cells [15][16][17].…”