Atmospheric pressure plasma promotes T lymphocytes activation

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Biophysics

Background:

• T lymphocytes are crucial for adaptive immunity, requiring precise regulation.
• Atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) shows promise in cancer therapy via immune activation and immunogenic cell death.
• The impact of APP on T cell activation remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of APP on T cell activation and subsets.
• To elucidate the mechanisms underlying APP's influence on T cells.

Main Methods:

• Jurkat T cells were stimulated with anti-CD3/28 and pretreated with APP.
• Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) levels were measured.
• Cell proliferation, activation markers (CD69, CD25), and cytokine secretion (IL-2, IFN-γ) were assessed.
• Proteomic analysis and flow cytometry were performed on rat peripheral blood after APP inhalation.

Main Results:

• APP pretreatment increased intracellular and extracellular RONS in stimulated T cells.
• APP enhanced T cell proliferation, upregulated CD69 and CD25 expression, and boosted IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion.
• APP inhalation activated the T cell receptor signaling pathway in rats.
• APP inhalation increased regulatory T cells in normal and ischemic rats, mitigating cerebral infarction.

Conclusions:

• APP can potentiate T cell activation in conjunction with co-stimulatory signals.
• APP demonstrates immunomodulatory effects, including enhancing T cell responses and increasing regulatory T cells.
• These findings support further research into APP for immunomodulation and therapeutic applications.