title: Hyperbaric oxygen attenuates apoptosis and decreases inflammation in an ischemic wound model.
abstract: The molecular mechanisms whereby hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) improves ischemic wound healing remain elusive. In this study, a rat model of wound ischemia was used to test the hypothesis that HBO enhances wound healing by modulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) signaling. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent creation of a previously validated ischemic flap. Three groups underwent daily treatment: HBO (90 minutes, 2.4 atm); systemic administration of the free radical scavenger, N-acetylcysteine (NAC 150 mg kg(-1) intraperitoneal); control (neither HBO nor NAC). HBO treatment improved healing of the ischemic wounds. Analysis of ischemic wound tissue extracts demonstrated significantly reduced expression of HIF-1alpha, p53, and BNip3. Additionally, HBO increased expression of Bcl-2 while decreasing cleaved caspase-3. DNA fragmentation was abolished and the number of TUNEL-positive cells was reduced compared to the other groups. Vascular endothelial growth factor, cyclooxygenase-2, and neutrophil infiltration were reduced in ischemic wounds treated with HBO. These results indicate that HBO improves ischemic wound healing by downregulation of HIF-1alpha and subsequent target gene expression with attenuation of cell apoptosis and reduction of inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Qixu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gould
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D023421:Models, Animal; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C505650:BNIP3 protein, rat; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D053148:Caspase 3; D000111:Acetylcysteine