Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on expression of fibrinolytic factors of human endothelium in a simulated ischaemia/reperfusion situation.
BACKGROUND
Treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) is controversial when treating disorders other than decompression sickness. Still, HBO2 is a treatment modality that has gained recognition in certain situations of ischaemia reperfusion. However, not much is known about its effect on the endothelial cells. Based on earlier studies, the hypothesis was that HBO2 treatment stimulates the release of fibrinolytic factors. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of HBO2 treatment on cultured endothelial cells in a simulated ischaemia-reperfusion model.


METHODS
To mimic the clinical situation during ischaemia reperfusion, endothelial cells were subjected to anoxia for 8 h, followed by reperfusion with either HBO2 or normobaric air for 1.5 h, and compared with an untreated control that was not exposed to anoxia. Components investigated were the fibrinolytic stimulator tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and the antagonist. plasminogen activator inhibitor type one (PAI-1).


RESULTS
Immediately after 8 h of total anoxia and reoxygenation with HBO2 (for 1.5 h), the mean (SEM) concentrations of t-PA, PAI-1 and uPA were significantly increased compared to the other groups. The difference between the normobaric and control groups, measured at 1.5 h, 6 h and 24 h post-anoxia, persisted throughout the experiment.


CONCLUSIONS
In this ischaemia-reperfusion model. HBO2 stimulates the release of fibrinolytic factors. These observations might be relevant in trauma care in preventing thromboses and/or microembolization following ischaemia-reperfusion.
Tjärnström
J
J
Departments of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Göteborg, Sweden. johan.tjarnstrom@vgregion.se
Holmdahl
L
L
Falk
P
P
Falkenberg
M
M
Arnell
P
P
Risberg
B
B
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000628:therapy*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator