Growth-inducing effects of argon plasma on soybean sprouts via the regulation of demethylation levels of energy metabolism-related genes

Plasma Farming: Non-Thermal Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Technology for Improving the Growth of Soybean Sprouts and Chickens

Non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma is an innovative and emerging field combining plasma physics, life science and clinical medicine for a wide-range of biological applications. Plasma techniques are applied in treating surfaces, materials or devices to realize specific qualities for subsequent special medical applications, plant seeds to improve the production and quality of crops, and living cells or tissues to realize therapeutic effects. Several studies that are summarized within this review show that non-thermal DBD plasma technique has potential biological applications in soybean sprout growth, chicken embryonic development and postnatal growth rate, and even male chicken reproductive capacity. The current developments in the non-thermal DBD plasma technique may be beneficial to improve plant and poultry productivity.

Innovative Approach of Non-Thermal Plasma Application for Improving the Growth Rate in Chickens

As an innovative technology in biological applications—non-thermal plasma technique—has recently been applied to living cells and tissues. However, it is unclear whether non-thermal plasma treatment can directly regulate the growth and development of livestock. In this study, we exposed four-day-incubated fertilized eggs to plasma at 11.7 kV for 2 min, which was found to be the optimal condition in respect of highest growth rate in chickens. Interestingly, plasma-treated male chickens conspicuously grew faster than females. Plasma treatment regulated the reactive oxygen species homeostasis by controlling the mitochondrial respiratory complex activity and up-regulating the antioxidant defense system. At the same time, growth metabolism was improved due to the increase of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 and their receptors expression, and the rise of thyroid hormones and adenosine triphosphate levels through the regulation of demethylation levels of growth and hormone biosynthesis-related genes in the skeletal muscles and thyroid glands. To our knowledge, this study was the first to evaluate the effects of a non-thermal plasma treatment on the growth rate of chickens. This safe strategy might be beneficial to the livestock industry.

MicroRNA-7450 regulates non-thermal plasma-induced chicken Sertoli cell apoptosis via adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activation

Non-thermal plasma treatment is an emerging innovative technique with a wide range of biological applications. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma technique on immature chicken Sertoli cell (SC) viability and the regulatory role of microRNA (miR)-7450. Results showed that plasma treatment increased SC apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Plasma-induced SC apoptosis possibly resulted from the excess production of reactive oxygen species via the suppression of antioxidant defense systems and decreased cellular energy metabolism through the inhibition of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release and respiratory enzyme activity in the mitochondria. In addition, plasma treatment downregulated miR-7450 expression and activated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα), which further inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation in SCs. A single-stranded synthetic miR-7450 antagomir disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased ATP level and mTOR phosphorylation by targeting the activation of AMPKα, which resulted in significant increases in SC lethality. A double-stranded synthetic miR-7450 agomir produced opposite effects on these parameters and ameliorated plasma-mediated apoptotic effects on SCs. Our findings suggest that miR-7450 is involved in the regulation of plasma-induced SC apoptosis through the activation of AMPKα and the further inhibition of mTOR signaling pathway.

Non-thermal plasma treatment improves chicken sperm motility via the regulation of demethylation levels

The quality of avian semen is an important economic trait in poultry production. The present study examines the in vitro effects of non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma on chicken sperm to determine the plasma conditions that can produce the optimum sperm quality. Exposure to 11.7 kV of plasma for 20 s is found to produce maximum sperm motility by controlling the homeostasis of reactive oxygen species and boosting the release of adenosine triphosphate and respiratory enzyme activity in the mitochondria. However, prolonged exposure or further increase in plasma potential impairs the sperm quality in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Optimal plasma treatment of sperm results in upregulated mRNA and protein expression of antioxidant defense-related and energetic metabolism-related genes by increasing their demethylation levels. However, 27.6 kV of plasma exerts significant adverse effects. Thus, our findings indicate that appropriate plasma exposure conditions improve chicken sperm motility by regulating demethylation levels of genes involved in antioxidant defense and energetic metabolism.

Plasma-Functionalized Solution: A Potent Antimicrobial Agent for Biomedical Applications from Antibacterial Therapeutics to Biomaterial Surface Engineering

Deadly diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria and viruses have increasingly victimized humans; thus, the importance of disinfection has increased in medical settings as well as in food and agricultural industries. Plasma contains multiple bactericidal agents, including reactive species, charged particles, and photons, which can have synergistic effects. In particular, the chemicals formed in aqueous solution during plasma exposure have the potential for high antibacterial activity against various bacterial infections. Here, we report the antibiotic potency of plasma-treated water (PTW). To illustrate the applicability of PTW for disinfecting biological substances, an Escherichia coli biofilm was used. We sought to identify the chemical species in PTW and investigate their separate effects on biofilm removal. Dielectric barrier discharge in ambient air was used to prepare the PTW and treat the biofilm directly. Hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and nitrites were identified as the long-lived reactive species in the PTW, whereas hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions were identified as the short-lived reactive species in the PTW; all these species showed an ability to disinfect in biofilm removal.

Hydrogen gas mediates ascorbic acid accumulation and antioxidant system enhancement in soybean sprouts under UV-A irradiation

The soybean sprout is a nutritious and delicious vegetable that is rich in ascorbic acid (AsA). Hydrogen gas (H2) may have potential applications in the vegetable processing industry. To investigate whether H2 is involved in the regulation of soybean sprouts AsA biosynthesis under UV irradiation, we set 4 different treatments: white light(W), W+HRW, UV-A and UV-A+HRW. The results showed that H2 significantly blocked the UV-A-induced accumulation of ROS, decreased TBARS content and enhanced SOD and APX activity in soybean sprouts. We also observed that the UV-A induced accumulation of AsA was enhanced more intensely when co-treated with HRW. Molecular analyses showed that UV-A+HRW significantly up-regulated AsA biosynthesis and recycling genes compared to UV-A in soybean sprouts. These data demonstrate that the H2 positively regulates soybean sprouts AsA accumulation under UV-A and that this effect is mediated via the up-regulation of AsA biosynthesis and recycling genes.

Lethality of inappropriate plasma exposure on chicken embryonic development

In this study, we examined the effects of non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma on embryonic development in chicken eggs in order to determine the optimal level of plasma exposure for the promotion of embryonic growth. We exposed developing chicken embryos at either Hamburger-Hamilton (HH) stage 04 or HH 20 to plasma at voltages of 11.7 kV to 27.6 kV. Our results show exposure at 11.7 kV for 1 min promoted chicken embryonic development, but exposure to more duration and intensity of plasma resulted in dose-dependent embryonic death and HH 20 stage embryos survive longer than those at stage HH 04. Furthermore, plasma exposure for 4 min increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inactivated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-antioxidant response signaling pathway, resulting in suppression of antioxidant enzymes in the skeletal muscle tissue of the dead embryos. We also found decreased levels of adenosine triphosphate production and reductions in the expression levels of several growth-related genes and proteins. These findings indicate that inappropriate plasma exposure causes dose-dependent embryonic death via excessive accumulation of ROS, NRF2-antioxidant signaling pathway disruption, and decreased growth factor expression.