Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on number of peripheral blood stem cells: clinical observation and experimental study

Abstract

Objective:To observe the effect of hyperbaric oxygen(HBO) on peripheral hematopoietic stem cells(PHSCs) in a Chinese population,and to mobilize PHSCs by combined use of HBO and colony-stimulating factor(CSF) in an animal experiment.Methods:(1) The changes of CD34+ absolute count before and after HBO therapy were observed under routine HBO conditions in 8 patients who received long-term HBO therapy and 18 patients who received HBO therapy for neurological injuries.(2) Thirty BALB/c mice were equally randomized into three groups: HBO group,where the animals were exposed to HBO;HGF group,where the animals received recombinant hematopoietic growth factor injection;and HBO+HGF group.Postglobe venous blood was harvested before and after treatment;the gated cell CD34/Scal-1 dual-positive population was determined by flow cytometry.Results:(1) After 7 episodes of HBO therapies,the peripheral CD34+ absolute count of the patients rose from(1.87±1.08)×106/L before treatment to(4.75±4.67)×106/L(an increase of 2.54 folds);while the number was(2.85±1.94)×106/L after 14 episodes of HBO therapies(with an increase of 1.52 folds) and(3.26±3.49)×106/L after 20 episodes of HBO therapies(with a increase of 1.74 folds).The peripheral CD34+ absolute count of the 8 patients who received long-term HBO therapy for neurological injuries was(2.11±1.14)×106/L,not significantly different from that of the 18 patients before treatment.(2) The gated cell CD34/Scal-1 dual-positive population in HBO group,HGF group,and HBO+HGF group after treatment were 2.01,2.66,and 3.76 folds before treatment,respectively.Conclusion: Multiple HBO exposure can mobilize PHSC;prolonged HBO exposure fails to maintain the peripheral CD34+ absolute count at a relatively high level.Concomitant use of HBO and HFG can more effectively mobilize PHSCs.