The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the inflammatory response in a mouse model of endometriosis: An experimental study Original paper
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
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Endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.
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Karen Pendergrass
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What Was Studied?
This study investigated the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on the inflammatory response in a mouse model of endometriosis. The authors focused on the potential therapeutic role of HBOT in reducing inflammation and modulating molecular pathways, particularly the nuclear factor kappa beta (NFκB) pathway, which plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. The research aimed to address hypoxia-induced inflammation in endometriosis by exploring how HBOT, through its oxygen-rich environment, could attenuate the inflammatory cascade.
Who Was Studied?
The study utilized 24 healthy adult female Swiss albino mice. The animals were randomly divided into three groups: a pre-test group (Group I), a post-test group receiving HBOT (Group II), and a post-test group without HBOT (Group III). Endometriosis was induced via xenotransplantation of human endometrial cells into the mice’s peritoneum. Group II received HBOT for 10 days (30 minutes, three times daily), while Group III did not undergo HBOT but was evaluated at the same time points.
What Were the Most Important Findings?
The study found that HBOT significantly reduced the degree of inflammation in endometriosis-induced mice. Group II (HBOT) showed the lowest inflammation scores (1.60 ± 0.53), compared to the pre-test group (9.41 ± 1.99) and the post-test group without HBOT (2.42 ± 0.53). This reduction in inflammation was associated with a significant decrease in NFκB expression, a key pro-inflammatory transcription factor, in the HBOT group. NFκB expression levels correlated strongly with the degree of inflammation (r = 0.670, p ≤ 0.001). These findings suggest that HBOT alleviates the hypoxia-induced inflammatory response by modulating NFκB signaling and reducing peritoneal inflammation.
From a microbiome perspective, hypoxia-induced inflammatory conditions, such as those observed in endometriosis, are often associated with microbial dysbiosis. HBOT’s role in reducing inflammation and altering the microenvironment may indirectly influence microbial populations in the peritoneal cavity. This warrants further exploration into whether HBOT could restore microbial balance by reducing the inflammatory burden and hypoxia.
What Are the Greatest Implications of This Study?
The study provides strong evidence for HBOT as a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing inflammation in endometriosis. By mitigating the effects of hypoxia and decreasing NFκB activation, HBOT addresses a key molecular mechanism in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Clinically, these findings support the use of HBOT as a non-invasive, adjunctive therapy to manage endometriosis-related inflammation. Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of targeting the hypoxia-inflammatory axis to improve outcomes for endometriosis patients. However, the findings also highlight the need for additional research to optimize HBOT protocols, including duration and dose, to achieve maximal therapeutic benefits.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood and delivered to tissues.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.