The Effects of the Low Temperature Argon Plasma on Stem Cells Proliferation and Regeneration in Planarians

Effects of the low temperature argon plasma (LTAP) in intact and regenerating planarians are studied. The LTAP actions were specified as activating or inhibiting using stem cells proliferation and the regenerative blastema growth, and the expression level of wound‐specific genes responsible for regeneration. The activating mode of LTAP treatment does not induce the generation of the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) but the inhibiting mode of LTAP treatment causes the oxidative stress response in planarian tissue without DNA damage. The results indicate that LTAP wound healing action in planarians could be similar in cellular and molecular mechanisms of the higher organisms including humans. The effects of LTAP irradiation as a factor of the low intensity are discussed from standpoint of the hormesis hypothesis.