Cold Plasma Ameliorates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Skin Inflammation in Mice.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Cold plasma has shown efficacy in various dermatological applications by reduces inflammatory responses and modulating cytokine expression. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of cold plasma on psoriasis. METHODS: In psoriasis HaCaT cells with cold plasma, we confirmed the expression of inflammatory cytokines involved in psoriasis formation and MAPK pathway, cell cycle, and apoptosis-related factors. In psoriasis-like BALB/c mice model, the effects of cold plasma treatment on skin were visually assessed. The expression of psoriasis-related factors was confirmed through qPCR, Western blotting, and Immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Cold plasma led to a reduction in inflammatory cytokines including IL-17A, IL-23A, IL-24, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the psoriasis cell line. It also modulated factors involved in the MAPK pathway and the cell cycle. In the psoriasis-like mice model, cold plasma resulted in improvements in skin thickness, erythema, scaling, and PASI. Additionally, decreases in inflammatory cytokines like INF-γ, IL-23, and S100a7 were observed, along with improvements in MAPK pathway activation, apoptosis, and other psoriasis-related factors. CONCLUSION: Through in vitro and in vivo studies, our research highlights the potential of cold plasma as a novel therapeutic approach for psoriasis. Furthermore, cold plasma could serve as an adjunctive treatment for skin immunological diseases.