Combined effect of hyberbaric oxygen and N-acetylcysteine on fibroblast proliferation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the combined effect of hyperbaric oxygen and N-acetylcysteine, a well-studied antioxidant, on fibroblast proliferation and production of 3 specific growth factors: basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and transforming growth factor beta1.


METHODS
In vitro study.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Human dermal fibroblasts were propagated in serum-free medium and subjected to daily 90-minute 2-atm hyperbaric oxygen treatments with varying concentrations of N-acetylcysteine for 7 consecutive days. Cell proliferation and growth factor assays were performed on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7.


RESULTS
Population doubling time decreased significantly with 40 micromol/L of N-acetylcysteine supplementation of 2-atm hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Higher levels of N-acetylcysteine increased population doubling time.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy with 40 mumol/L of N-acetylcysteine appears to increase fibroblast proliferation without producing an unfavorable growth factor profile for normal healing. This suggests that this level of N-acetylcysteine may foster an ideal redox environment for fibroblast proliferation in a hyperbaric oxygen environment.
Kunnavatana
Shaun S
SS
Wound Healing and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif., USA.
Quan
Susan Y
SY
Koch
R James
RJ
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000368:Aged; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D000111:Acetylcysteine