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Treatment with hyperbaric oxygen affects endothelial cell fibrinolysis
J Tjärnström1, L Holmdahl, P Arnell
1Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden.
Objective:
To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO) on the thrombolytic properties of endothelial cells.
Setting:
University hospital, Sweden.
Interventions:
Human endothelial cells were derived from saphenous veins, and exposed to oxygen in a compression chamber at 2.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA, =250kPa). Cells exposed to 2.5 ATA with a gas mixture similar to air (HB Air), and unpressurised air-exposed cells served as controls.
Main Outcome Measures:
Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1).
Results:
Immediately after treatment there was a significant increase in t-PA protein in the medium in cultures treated with HBO compared with HB Air (p = 0.015, n = 6), and untreated controls (p = 0.015, n = 6). The PAI-1 concentration in media was also higher in the HBO-treated group compared with HB Air (p = 0.004, n = 6) and untreated controls (p = 0.004, n = 6). Six hours after treatment there was still a significant increase in PAI-1 in the HBO-treated group compared with untreated controls (p = 0.007, n = 6), but not with the pressure control. t-PA concentrations were similar. Specific mRNA for t-PA and PAI-1 was detectable immediately after treatment and six hours later in all experimental groups as assessed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HBO increased the gene expression for both t-PA and PAI-1.
Conclusions:
HBO affects endothelial cell function and its fibrinolytic response. These findings may have clinical relevance in hyperbaric medicine and trauma care.