The Effect of Cold Atmospheric Plasma on the Membrane Permeability of Human Osteosarcoma Cells

Abstract

Background: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has a variety of anticancer effects on different cancer cell types. In osteosarcoma (OS) cells, CAP reduces growth and motility, induces apoptosis, and alters secretion of cellular factors. The influence of CAP on membrane integrity of OS cells is unknown. Materials and Methods: Two different OS cell lines (U-2 OS and MNNG-HOS) were treated with CAP.Proliferation assays for cell growth after treatment was performed. Alterations in membrane permeability and the associated translocation of low molecular weight particles through the cytoplasmic membrane of OS cells after CAP treatment were shown in fluorescein diacetate (FDA) assays. Results: FDA increasingly passed the membrane after CAP treatment and this effect depended on the duration of treatment. It was also shown that after CAP treatment, FDA was able to diffuse into the cells from the outside as well as out of the cell interior. These effects were observed when CAP-treated buffer was used and therefore no direct contact between cells and CAP occurred. Conclusion: The observations suggest that changes in membrane permeability and function may contribute to the antiproliferative effects of CAP.

Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment of Chondrosarcoma Cells Affects Proliferation and Cell Membrane Permeability

“…This antiproliferative effect on the other CS cell line SW1353 could only be achieved after a significant increase in the CAP treatment time (Figure 1). This individual treatment time-dependent effect of CAP exposure observed has already been described in other studies with different entities [18,21]. However, with increasing treatment time, the antiproliferative CAP effects became clear in both CS cell lines.…”

Intracellular Responses Triggered by Cold Atmospheric Plasma and Plasma-Activated Media in Cancer Cells

“…PAM efficiency herein reveals cell type dependency (efficiency proved in HeLa cells vs. none in 4T1 cells) [47]. The detection of non-membrane-permeable fluorescein diacetate and endogenously synthesized ATP confirmed increased membrane permeability in human osteosarcoma (U-2 OS, MNNG-HOS) [48,49] and U373MG glioblastoma cells [8]. CAP/PAM treated cell membranes rich in peroxidised lipids are trafficked into the cells via membrane repairing endocytosis.…”

“…Computer simulations confirmed CAP/PAM-oxidizes a phospholipid bilayer to exhibit a decrease of the free energy barrier for translocation of various substances, including melittin, when compared to the non-oxidized bilayer [46]. CAP treatment was shown to enhance translocation of low molecular weight (ATP), as well as molecules, sized up to 150 kDa, through the cytoplasmic membrane [47][48][49]. PAM efficiency herein reveals cell type dependency (efficiency proved in HeLa cells vs. none in 4T1 cells) [47].…”

“…Their enhanced uptake is clathrin-dependent with the formation of lysosome directed vesicles [8,50]. CAP-stimulated membrane repair via increased endocytosis can accelerate the uptake of dextran and several nanoparticles [48,49]. Besides, CAP-induced changes in the cell membrane of U-2 OS, MNNG/HOS, A673, and RD-ES cells also afflict their cytoskeleton composition and G/F actin distribution [48,51], leading to the formation of actin stress fibres [47].…”

An Innovative Therapeutic Option for the Treatment of Skeletal Sarcomas: Elimination of Osteo- and Ewing’s Sarcoma Cells Using Physical Gas Plasma

“…The anti-oncological effect of CAP has been demonstrated in various tumor entities such as ovarian, breast, and pancreatic cancer [ 29 , 45 , 46 ] as well as OS [ 45 , 47 , 48 ]. In OS cells, CAP treatment led to the activation of p53, to apoptosis-specific pycnotic modifications of cell morphology, and finally to the apoptotic degradation of genomic DNA [ 18 , 49 , 50 ].…”