Cold Plasma Generates a Localized Inflammatory Response and Promotes Muscle Repair

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Plasma Physics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• The Renuvion device, an FDA-approved cold plasma tool, is used for skin tightening.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests improved tissue healing post-treatment.
• Reactive species from plasma may explain healing benefits via cellular pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular effects of cold plasma on surgically injured muscle and soft tissue.
• To determine immediate and long-term changes following a single plasma treatment.

Main Methods:

• RNA sequencing to analyze gene expression changes.
• Histology and immunohistochemistry to assess tissue structure and cellular markers.
• Evaluation of tissue at 6 hours, 4 days, and 14 days post-treatment.

Main Results:

• Rapid mobilization of neutrophils and mast cells at 6 hours post-treatment.
• Upregulation of cellular antioxidant responses and pro-regenerative muscle gene transcripts.
• Downregulation of apoptotic pathways in muscle tissue.
• Histology and RNAseq indicate a shift towards myogenic differentiation over adipogenesis at 4 and 14 days.

Conclusions:

• A single cold plasma treatment triggers an immediate inflammatory and antioxidant response.
• This response promotes long-term muscle fiber repair by reducing adipogenesis.
• Cold plasma therapy shows potential for enhancing surgical recovery and tissue regeneration.