Technical advance: High Content Imaging of 2D and 3D tumor spheroids co-cultured with THP-1 monocytes following Plasma Treatment

In this study, we aimed to determine the Toxicity Potency (TC50) of human melanoma derived spheroids (SK-Mel28) following cold plasma treatment (kINPen) under following conditions: a) plasma-treated tumor spheroid monoculture, and b) plasma-treated tumor spheroid/THP1 co-culture. Tumor spheroids toxicity was enumerated by dead cell staining and normalized to nuclear Hoechst stain following time-lapse microscopy in a high content confocal microscope (Operatta™, Perkin Elmer). Results indicate that cold plasma monotherapy significantly induces a dose-dependent toxicity in spheroids. This toxicity was enhanced upon co-culture with THP1 monocytes indicating activation of immunogenic cell death in tumor cells (ICD). ICD markers were quantified in cell culture supernatant analysis suggested soluble mediators to participate in the THP1-driven tumor cell rejection. Altogether, cold plasma treatment is sufficient to induce immunogenic tumor cell death, which is being perceived in human monocytes. Studies with primary cells are needed to confirm these effects.
Source: Clinical Plasma Medicine - Category: Research Source Type: research