Oxygen therapy attenuates neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury

Journal of Neuroinflammation, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-023-02985-6 · Published: December 4, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Pharmacology Immunology

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the impact of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy versus normobaric oxygen therapy on spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. The goal was to determine if the pressure component of HBO provides additional benefits beyond high oxygen concentration alone. The results showed both HBO and normobaric oxygen reduced inflammation after SCI. Rats with spinal cord injuries were treated with either normal air, normobaric (normal pressure) 100% oxygen, or hyperbaric (high pressure) 100% oxygen at different pressures. The treatments were given for one hour a day for ten days, starting within two hours of the injury. The researchers then looked at inflammation in the spinal cord and measured breathing function. The study found that while both types of oxygen therapy reduced inflammation, HBO had unique benefits. These included increased levels of an anti-inflammatory substance in the blood and improved breathing capacity compared to normobaric oxygen alone, suggesting that pressure does offer some added advantages.

Study Duration

10 days

Participants

Adult male and female Sprague–Dawley rats (n=112)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Both hyperbaric and normobaric oxygen therapy significantly reduced the inflammatory response in the injured spinal cord, as evidenced by transcriptomic analysis and immunohistochemical markers for astrocytes and microglia.
2
HBO treatment uniquely upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-4 in the plasma, a benefit not observed with normobaric oxygen therapy.
3
Rats treated with HBO at 3 ATA showed larger inspiratory tidal volumes at 10 days post-injury, indicating enhanced respiratory recovery compared to other treatment groups.

Research Summary

This study evaluated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and normobaric oxygen therapy on neuroinflammation and respiratory recovery in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI). The key finding was that both HBO and normobaric oxygen treatments reduced spinal inflammation, but HBO, particularly at 3 ATA, provided additional benefits such as increased anti-inflammatory cytokine levels and improved respiratory function. The authors conclude that while normobaric oxygen can mitigate the spinal inflammatory response after SCI, pressured oxygen (HBO) offers further advantages, suggesting it as a superior therapeutic approach.

Practical Implications

Clinical Translation

Normobaric oxygen therapy could be a more accessible and logistically simpler treatment option for acute SCI due to its ease of administration compared to HBO.

Therapeutic Optimization

Further research is warranted to explore the optimal duration and dosage of normobaric oxygen therapy to maximize its neuroprotective effects after SCI.

Personalized Treatment

The study highlights the potential for personalized treatment approaches, where HBO is used in cases needing additional benefits like increased anti-inflammatory cytokine levels and improved respiratory function, while normobaric oxygen is sufficient for basic anti-inflammatory action.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted on rats, and the results may not directly translate to human SCI patients.
2
The oxygen treatments were administered for only one hour per day, and different treatment durations might yield different outcomes.
3
The study focused on a specific type of cervical spinal cord injury (C4 lateralized contusion), and the findings may not be generalizable to other types or levels of SCI.

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