Use of Proteomics to Investigate Plasma-Cell Interactions

Abstract

The understanding of basic mechanisms of plasma effects on living cells is one of the main preconditions to develop systematically innovative therapy options in the new and emerging field of plasma medicine. In this study, proteomics have been used for the first time to analyze the influences of physical plasma on vital constituents of mammalian cells. Treatment of human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) by an atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet resulted in changes of charges of several cell proteins, but not in mass changes. These first results indicate plasma-induced reactions of functional groups or ligands, but no fragmentation, degradation, or complexation of cell proteins. Hereby, the importance to examine internal cellular changes caused by plasma treatment to elucidate the influence of plasma on the metabolism of human cells next to morphological changes, cell performance, and cell viability could be demonstrated. Starting from now, proteomics will become a useful tool for basic research in the field of plasma medicine.