Increase in galectin expression in healing wounded skin treated with low-temperature plasma: Comparison with treatment by electronical coagulation

Low-temperature plasma is useful for the care of wounded skin. It accelerates wound healing. However, the mechanism of this effect has not been fully elucidated yet. Galectins, which are a family of animal lectins having galactose-binding ability, are reported to accelerate wound healing. In the present study to clarify whether or not galectins were expressed during the process of wound healing in the plasma-treated skin, we examined the effect of low-temperature plasma on galectin expression in the healing wounded skin. We compared the effects of low-temperature plasma on the expression of galectin −1, −2, and −3 in the healing skin with those of electrocoagulation conducted with a high-frequency electrical coagulator. Immediately after the start of low-temperature plasma treatment following the incision made in the skin, a membrane-like structure was formed on the surface of the wound. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that these galectins were localized in the membrane-like structure and in the dermal fibroblast and extracellular matrix of the plasma-treated skin. The expressions of these galectins were increased by the low-temperature plasma treatment, whereas they were inhibited by the electrocoagulation. These results suggest that galectins were involved in the wound healing of low-temperature plasma-treated skin.