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The present study aims at studying the anticancer role of cold plasma-activated immune cells. The direct anti-cancer activity of plasma-activated immune cells against human solid cancers has not been described so far. Hence, we assessed the effect of plasma-treated RAW264.7 macrophages on cancer cell growth after co-culture. In particular, flow cytometer analysis revealed that plasma did not induce any cell death in RAW264.7 macrophages. Interestingly, immunofluorescence and western blot analysis confirmed that TNF-α released from plasma-activated macrophages acts as a tumour cell death inducer. In support of these findings, activated macrophages down-regulated the cell growth in solid cancer cell lines and induced cell death in vitro. Together our findings suggest plasma-induced reactive species recruit cytotoxic macrophages to release TNF-α, which blocks cancer cell growth and can have the potential to contribute to reducing tumour growth in vivo in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several applications for non-thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure, such as the sterilization of infected tissues, wound healing, and delicate surgery. Non-thermal plasma generates reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS). In this study, we examined human red blood cells (RBCs), platelet function, and blood coagulation, following treatments with different feeding gases (air, nitrogen (N2), and argon (Ar)) of the dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBDP) at different exposure times. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of DBDP on hemolysis, deformability, aggregation, and morphology of RBCs, as well as platelet function and blood coagulation at three doses (5, 10 and 15 min exposure). In comparison to N2 and Ar DBDP, air DBDP at more than 10 min exposure to RBC in culture plate with 2 ml liquid solution caused hemolysis and alterations in RBC deformability and aggregation owing to the higher levels of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl oxidants and other RONS. Moreover, air DBDP affected platelet function at high doses (more than 10 min exposure). Consequently, the air DBDP at, or more, than 10 min exposure affects blood coagulation and blood cells. The proposed method is useful for assessing the performances and dose optimization of various non-thermal plasma types used with different type of gases in biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]