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Nerve Stem Cell Differentiation by a One-step Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment In Vitro
Published on: January 11, 2019
Cold atmospheric plasma selectively induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in AR-independent prostate cancer
Dong Hua1,2,3, Dongyan Cai3, Meng Ning4,5
1Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi 214043, China.
Abstract:
Purpose: Androgen receptor-independent prostate cancers do not respond to androgen blockage therapies and suffer from high recurrence rate. We aim to contribute to the establishment of novel therapeutic approaches against such malignancies. Materials and Methods: We examined whether and how cold atmospheric plasma delivers selectivity against AR-independent prostate cancers via cell viability, transwell assay, wound healing, cell apoptosis assay, flow cytometry, intracellular hydrogen peroxide determination assay, RONS scavenger assay and western blot using human normal epithelial prostatic cells PNT1A and AR-negative DU145 prostate cancer cells. Results: We show that cold atmospheric plasma could selectively halt cell proliferation and migration in androgen receptor-independent cells as a result of induced cell apoptosis and G0/G1 stage cell cycle arrest, and such outcomes were achieved through modulations on the MAPK and NF-kB pathways in response to physical plasma induced intracellular redox level. Conclusion: Our study reports cold atmospheric plasma induced reduction on the proliferation and migration of androgen receptor-independent prostate cancer cells that offers novel therapeutic insights on the treatment of such cancers, and provides the first evidence on physical plasma induced cell cycle G0/G1 stage arrest that warrants the exploration on the synergistic use of cold atmospheric plasma and drugs such as chemotherapies in eradicating such cancer cells.
Insights
Cold atmospheric plasma selectively targets androgen receptor-independent prostate cancer cells, inhibiting proliferation and migration. This approach induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, offering new therapeutic strategies for aggressive prostate cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Androgen receptor-independent prostate cancer (PCa) lacks effective treatments.
- High recurrence rates necessitate novel therapeutic strategies for advanced PCa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the selective efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) against androgen receptor-independent PCa.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of CAP's anti-cancer effects.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of CAP effects on normal prostatic cells (PNT1A) and AR-negative PCa cells (DU145).
- Assays included cell viability, migration, apoptosis, cell cycle, intracellular reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS), and western blotting.
- Investigated MAPK and NF-kB pathway modulation.
Main Results:
- CAP selectively inhibited proliferation and migration in AR-independent PCa cells.
- CAP induced significant apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in cancer cells.
- CAP treatment modulated intracellular redox levels, impacting MAPK and NF-kB signaling.
Conclusions:
- CAP demonstrates selective anti-cancer effects on AR-independent PCa, offering a novel therapeutic avenue.
- CAP induces cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 stage, a novel finding for physical plasma applications.
- Synergistic use of CAP with conventional therapies like chemotherapy warrants further investigation.
