Oxygen nanobubble water affects wound healing of fibroblast WI-38 cells

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigated the usefulness of oxygen nanobubble water (O2NBW) for wound repair by analyzing its effect on the wound-healing process in human lung fibroblasts (WI-38 cells). The WI-38 cells were treated with 0%, 50%, and 100% O2NBW. The cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and wound healing following treatment were determined to elucidate the effects of O2NBW. Our findings revealed that O2NBW had no cytotoxic effects on WI-38 cells, but instead increased cell numbers. The production of ROS was inhibited in the presence of O2NBW. Further, O2NBW induced migration and wound closure in WI-38 cells. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant enzymes and wound-healing-related genes were evaluated. The results demonstrated that O2NBW enhanced the expression levels of all representative genes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that O2NBW could affect ROS production and wound healing in WI-38 cells and genes associated with the antioxidant system and wound healing.