The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on gene expression: microarray analysis on wound healing

Abstract

Background: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy canhave a positive effect on wound healing, angiogenesis and blood flow. No prior study has described the effects of HBO2 therapy and gene expression of this process. The goal of our research was to show the effects of HBO2 and its impact at the molecular level on angiogenesis, proliferation, differentiation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and extracellular matrix formation. Live animal subjects were used for simulating the process of wound healing under standard conditions and under the influence of HBO2. Methods: Two experimental groups were created using injured rabbits (N=24), one group (N=12) treated with hyperbaric therapy twice a day and one (N=12) with standard wound care management. Wounds were surgical, uninfected, and in healthy animal test subjects. We compared the whole genomic analysis of the transcriptome with the use of microarray technology at three intervals during treatment. Results: The induction of the wounds in rabbit skin increased expression of hundreds of genes in both treatment groups. The numbers of elevated and decreased genes gradually reduced as the wound healed. Gene expression analysis showed elevated expression of several genes associated with inflammation in both groups of injured animals. Genes connected to the process of angiogenesis, proliferation, differentiation, oxidative stress and extracellular matrix formation were without statistically significant changes. Conclusion: The evidence did not support that HBO2 had any significant effect on gene expression during wound healing. Additionally, there was no evidence to support that there were changes in gene expression in either treatment group.

Diabetic Wound-Healing Science

“…Despite lacking a multitude of high-quality trials in the use of HBOT, recent work has emphasized that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be effective for the treatment of patients with Wagner grade 3 and 4 ulcers [ 144 ], showing a concurrent improvement in HbA1c, leukocyte levels, and serum creatinine [ 145 ]. While a recent study in rabbits treated with HBOT found no significant changes to the expression of genes involved in wound healing [ 146 ], a study using a diabetic mouse model found accelerated wound healing and a significant reduction in MMP-9 levels with treatment [ 147 ]. In a small study with 17 patients, hyperbaric oxygen therapy was noted to induce cytoplasmic translocation of HIF-1a and nuclear factor (NF)-kB localization as well as increased VEGF, IL-6, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, adiponectin, fibrosis, and angiogenesis while decreasing interferon (IFN)-γ levels [ 148 ].…”

The Use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Corticosteroid Therapy in Acute Acoustic Trauma: 15 Years’ Experience at the Czech Military Health Service

“…In the study by Jokitulppo et al, tinnitus after AAT occurred in more than 60%. Furthermore, the study states the exposure to noise correlates with subsequent tinnitus [ 12 , 23 ], which is evident in our group of patients, where the occurrence of tinnitus was similarly 58%.…”

Acute Effects on the Human Peripheral Blood Transcriptome of Decompression Sickness Secondary to Scuba Diving

“…Conversely, HBO did not induce any pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, or antioxidant effects in surgically induced inflammation in dogs ( Gautier et al, 2019 ). Recently, a microarray transcriptome study showed that HBO does not exert significant effects on gene expression during surgical wound healing in rabbits ( Tlapák et al, 2020 ). Critically, direct comparison of these studies is limited by differences in exposure, species, and the analytic methodology applied.…”