Effect of An Atmospheric Plasma Jet on the Differentiation of Melanoblast Progenitor

Melanoblasts are the cell source of regeneration for pigment restoration. The ability to differentiate into mature melanocytes is the essential feature of melanoblasts in depigmentation diseases. Cold atmospheric plasma is an ionized gas with near-room temperature and highly reactive species that has been shown to induce stem cell differentiation. The aim of the study was to explore the effect of cold atmospheric plasma on the differentiation of melanoblast progenitor cells. In this study, melanoblasts were exposed to the plasma jet and the cell morphology was observed. The cell cycle and cell proliferation were detected. Furthermore, the cell immunofluorescence and the detection of melanin particle and nitric oxide were carried out to investigate the differentiation of melanoblast progenitor cells. Cells that were treated with the plasma had longer and more synaptic structures, and the G1 phase of cell cycle was prolonged in the treated group. More melanin synthesis-related proteins and melanin particles were produced after plasma treatment. Nitric oxide was one of the active components generated by the plasma jet, and the nitric oxide content in the cell culture medium of the treated group increased. These results indicate that an increase in nitric oxide production caused by a plasma jet can promote cell differentiation. The application of plasma provides an innovative strategy for the treatment of depigmentation diseases.