Postoperative abdominal adhesions are responsible for serious clinical disorders. Administration of plasma-activated media (PAM) to cell type-specific modulated proliferation and protein
biosynthesis is a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent pathological cell responses in the context
of wound healing disorders. We analyzed PAM as a therapeutic option based on cell type-specific
anti-adhesive responses. Primary human peritoneal fibroblasts and mesothelial cells were isolated,
characterized and exposed to different PAM dosages. Cell type-specific PAM effects on different
cell components were identified by contact- and marker-independent Raman imaging, followed
by thorough validation by specific molecular biological methods. The investigation revealed cell
type-specific molecular responses after PAM treatment, including significant cell growth retardation
in peritoneal fibroblasts due to transient DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We identified
a therapeutic dose window wherein specifically pro-adhesive peritoneal fibroblasts were targeted,
whereas peritoneal mesothelial cells retained their anti-adhesive potential of epithelial wound closure.
Finally, we demonstrate that PAM treatment of peritoneal fibroblasts reduced the expression and
secretion of pro-adhesive cytokines and extracellular matrix proteins. Altogether, we provide insights
into biochemical PAM mechanisms which lead to cell type-specific pro-therapeutic cell responses.
This may open the door for the prevention of pro-adhesive clinical disorders.