Intracellular responses to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and lipid peroxidation in apoptotic cells cultivated in plasma-activated medium

Abstract

A mechanism of the cytotoxicity of plasma-activated medium (PAM) is revealed by examining the intracellular effects of reactive oxygen nitrogen species (RONS) and lipid oxidation. PAM is cell culture medium activated by irradiation using non-equilibrium atmospheric-pressure plasma using pure Ar gas in ambient air. Extracellular RONS in PAM induced the apoptotic death of HeLa cells. Temporal changes in intracellular RONS, such as ONOO−, NO, and O2−, were analyzed. Intracellular RONS generation in HeLa cells following incubation in PAM triggered activation of the caspase cascade pathway and lipid peroxidation of intracellular membranes to induce apoptosis.