Retardation of C2C12 myoblast cell proliferation by exposure to low-temperature atmospheric plasma

As the first step in evaluating the possibility of low-temperature atmospheric plasma for clinical applications in the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), we determined the effects of plasma exposure on C2C12 myoblasts. The low-temperature atmospheric plasma was generated through an electrical discharge in argon gas. One minute of plasma exposure every 24 h inhibited the cell proliferation, whereas myoblast differentiation was not affected. Plasma exposure increased the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK at 30 min after the exposure, but the phosphorylation of both was decreased to less than control levels at 1 and 4 h after the exposure. Plasma exposure increased the percentage of cells in the G2/M phase at 8 h after the exposure. In conclusion, plasma exposure retarded the proliferation of C2C12 myoblasts by G2/M arrest. Therefore, plasma exposure can be a possible treatment for the anti-proliferative effects of malignant tumors, such as RMS, without affecting differentiated skeletal muscle cells.