Plasma-generated nitric oxide radical (NO•) promotes the proliferation of fibroblast cells in liquid

Abstract

Abstract The promotion of cell proliferation by non-equilibrium atmospheric-pressure plasma is a promising technology for regenerative medicine. The fibroblast suspension was irradiated with electrically neutral radicals. Radial irradiation was performed using an atmospheric-pressure radical generator with a working gas mixture of Ar, O2, and N2. Carboxy-PTIO (c-PTIO), a scavenger of nitric oxide radical (NO•), was dissolved in the fibroblast suspension. Selective irradiation with electrically neutral radicals promoted fibroblast proliferation by 36% without c-PTIO in liquid. In contrast, proliferation-promoting effects were significantly reduced to 13% with c-PTIO. Fluorescence probes for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and NO• showed that intracellular RONS and NO• levels were increased by radical irradiation and reduced with c-PTIO in the fibroblast suspension. NO• was detected in the radical-irradiated solutions using ERS. These results suggested that plasma-generated NO• promotes fibroblast proliferation in liquids.