Non-Thermal Plasma Induces Apoptosis Accompanied by Protective Autophagy via Activating JNK/Sestrin2 Pathway

In this study, we found that NTP exposure caused reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis in A549 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Meanwhile, NTP treatment also induced autophagy, as evidenced by the formation of acidic vesicular organelles and conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II.

Suppression of autophagy by chloroquine significantly increased NTP-induced cell death, indicating that NTP-induced autophagy acted in a protective role from apoptosis. Furthermore, NTP treatment significantly increased Sestrin2 (Sesn2) expression and activated the JNK signaling pathway. Knocking down Sesn2 with special siRNA enhanced NTP-induced cell death, while pretreatment with JNK inhibitor abolished the increase of Sesn2 and LC3 formation, and promoted cell apoptosis induced by NTP.