Discharge Plasma-Activated Saline Protects Against Abdominal Sepsis by Promoting Bacterial Clearance

AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of cold atmospheric discharge plasma-activated saline (DPAS) on abdominal sepsis. METHODS: For in vitro research, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was treated with DPAS, and the survival was detected. For in vivo research, male C57BL/6 mice were induced to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and were randomly allocated into saline and DPAS control groups, CLP group, and low or high doses of DPAS (CLP + DPAS 5 and CLP + DPAS 10) groups. In experiment 1, mice were monitored for 120 h to conduct a Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis. In experiment 2, blood, peritoneal fluid, and lung and intestinal tissues in experimental groups were collected at 4, 8, and 24 h after the CLP/sham operation to determine the severity of sepsis. RESULTS: In vitro results showed that DPAS significantly inhibited MRSA proliferation. In vivo results showed that both low and high doses of DPAS could significantly improve septic survival in the mice. DPAS treatment also significantly attenuated the lung and intestine histopathological injuries; lung wet/dry ratio; inflammatory reaction; bacterial load in the peritoneal cavity, blood, and lungs; HMGB1 and NF-κB p65 expression levels; cell apoptosis in the lung and intestine. However, there was no difference between CLP + DPAS 5 and CLP + DPAS 10 groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, DPAS had markedly protective effects on abdominal sepsis in mice, and the potential mechanism was associated with the ability of reactive species in DPAS to promote bacterial clearance, inhibit the inflammatory response and cell apoptosis.