Comparing the Blood Response to Hyperbaric Oxygen with High-Intensity Interval Training-A Crossover Study in Healthy...

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and have immunomodulatory effects. The lack of readily available biomarkers for assessing the dose-response relationship is a challenge in the clinical use of HBOT, motivating this feasibility study to evaluate the methods and variability. The overall hypothesis was that a short session of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) would have measurable effects on immune cells in the same physiological range as shown in HIIT; and that the individual response to these interventions can be monitored in venous blood and/or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Ten healthy volunteers performed two interventions; a 28 min HIIT session and 28 min HBO₂ in a crossover design. We evaluated bulk RNA sequencing data from PBMCs, with a separate analysis of mRNA and microRNA. Blood gases, peripheral venous oxygen saturation (SpvO₂), and ROS levels were measured in peripheral venous blood. We observed an overlap in the gene expression changes in 166 genes in response to HIIT and HBO₂, mostly involved in hypoxic or inflammatory pathways. Both interventions were followed by downregulation of several NF-κB signaling genes in response to both HBO₂ and HIIT, while several interferon α/γ signaling genes were upregulated. Only 12 microRNA were significantly changed in HBO₂ and 6 in HIIT, without overlap between interventions. ROS levels were elevated in blood at 30 min and 60 min compared to the baseline during HIIT, but not during/after HBO₂. In conclusion, HBOT changed the gene expression in a number of pathways measurable in PBMC. The correlation of these changes with the dose and individual response to treatment warrants further investigation.