Cold atmospheric plasma ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriasiform dermatitis in mice by mediating antiproliferative effects

• Published in: Free radical research Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 269 - 280
• Main Authors: Gan, Lu, Duan, Jiangwei, Zhang, Song, Liu, Xin, Poorun, Devesh, Liu, Xinxin, Lu, Xinpei, Duan, Xiaoru, Liu, Dawei, Chen, Hongxiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 04.03.2019
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Apoptosis; cold atmospheric plasma; Dermatitis - drug therapy; Female; Humans; Imiquimod - adverse effects; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Plasma Gases - metabolism; psoriasis; Psoriasis - chemically induced; Psoriasis - drug therapy; reactive oxygen and nitrogen species; cold atmospheric plasma; reactive oxygen and nitrogen species; psoriasis; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 1071-5762; 1029-2470
• DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2018.1564920

Psoriasis is a chronic hyperproliferative skin disease characterised by excessive growth of keratinocytes. Indeed, inducing keratinocyte apoptosis is a key mechanism responsible for psoriatic plaques clearance following some important existing therapies, which display pro-oxidant activity. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), acting as a tuneable source of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), can controllably transfer RONS to the cellular environment, deliver antiproliferative RONS concentrations and exert antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects. This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic potential of CAP in psoriasis. We used cell models of psoriasis-like inflammation by adding lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) to HaCaT keratinocytes. Indirect plasma, plasma-activated medium (PAM), was administered to HaCaT cells. Atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) was applied directly to imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasiform dermatitis in mice. The results showed that PAM induced an increase in intracellular ROS and caused keratinocyte apoptosis. Moreover, cells under inflammation showed lesser viability and larger apoptosis rate. With repeated administration of APPJ, psoriasiform lesions showed ameliorated morphological manifestation and reduced epidermal proliferation. Overall, this study supports that CAP holds good potential in psoriasis treatment.