Effects of Human Fibroblast-Derived Multi-Peptide Factors on the Proliferation and Migration of Nitrogen Plasma-Treated Human Dermal Fibroblasts

BACKGROUND: Human fibroblast-derived multi-peptide factors (MPFs) promote wound repair by playing crucial roles in cell recruitment, adhesion, attachment, migration, and proliferation. METHODS: Cultured human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) were directly treated with non-contact low- and high-energy nitrogen plasma and further cultured in various conditioned media. Cell proliferation and wound-healing properties were evaluated. RESULTS: In Opti-modified Eagle’s medium + GlutaMAX culture, reduced HDF viability was observed 24 h after 2-J/pulse plasma treatment and 12 and 24 h after 3-J/pulse treatment. Meanwhile, in dermal fibroblast-conditioned medium (DFCM) containing MPF culture, reduced HDF viability was observed only 24 h after 3-J/pulse treatment. Under DFCM-MPF culture, the wound area percentage was significantly decreased after 12 and 24 h in untreated HDFs; at 9, 12, and 24 h after 1-J/pulse plasma treatment; at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h after 2-J/pulse plasma treatment; and at 9, 12, and 24 h after 3-J/pulse plasma treatment. Greater migration of HDFs with or without plasma treatment was found in DFCM-MPFs than in other conditioned media. CONCLUSION: Low-energy nitrogen plasma treatment promotes HDF proliferation and wound repair. DFCM-MPFs enhanced cell proliferation and improved the wound healing properties of HDFs treated with low- and high-energy plasma.