Differential sensitivities to hyperbaric oxygen of lymphocyte subpopulations of normal and autoimmune mice.
We studied the effect of exposure to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO): 2.8 atm absolute 100% oxygen for 4 h daily over 3-7 days, on the immune system of normal (BALB/c and MRL- +/+) and autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr) mice. In HBO exposed BALB/c mice, we observed a remarkable decrease in the cell population of the spleen and thymus. We found that the sensitivity to HBO varied among subpopulations of lymphocytes. For example, CD4+ CD8+ double positive cells in the thymus and B220+ B cells in the spleen were more sensitive than CD4+ or CD8+ single positive T cells in the thymus, and Thy-1+ T cells in the spleen, respectively. Accordingly, despite the decrease in total cell number in the spleen, the proliferative response of T cells from the spleen to Con A was not impaired in the HBO exposed mice. Exposure of MRL-lpr/lpr mice to HBO caused a marked reduction of weight and cell population of the otherwise enlarged spleen and lymph nodes, and amongst others of percentages of B220+Thy-1+ double positive abnormal cells. These results suggest the HBO therapy may be applicable for the treatment of some autoimmune diseases.
Xu
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Department of Hyperbaric Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Yi
H
H
Kato
M
M
Suzuki
H
H
Kobayashi
S
S
Takahashi
H
H
Nakashima
I
I
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D016923:Cell Death; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D010100:Oxygen