Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Tissue Regeneration: A Literature Survey.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review summarizing molecular mechanisms without systematic search or meta-analysis
PubMed 36551901 · doi:10.3390/biomedicines10123145
What was done
This narrative literature survey reviewed experimental and clinical literature describing the cellular, molecular, and physiological mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in tissue repair. The authors examined evidence across wound healing, neural tissue, bone, cartilage, muscle, cardiac tissue, and intestinal barrier function.
What was found
The abstract provides no quantitative data, effect sizes, or study counts. Qualitatively, HBO is reported to modulate oxidative stress responses (via Nrf2 and c-Jun), reduce inflammation (by downregulating HMGB-1, TLR-2/4, NF-κB, HIF-1α, and nitric oxide), promote stem cell homeostasis and repair (via Wnt, mTOR, ERK, and PI3K/Akt pathways), and facilitate tissue remodeling (via downregulation of MMP-2, MMP-9, ROCK, and integrins).
Why it matters
The paper provides a comprehensive map of the diverse molecular signaling cascades influenced by hyperbaric oxygen, framing its therapeutic action as a restorative, homeostatic intervention across varied tissue injury models.
Limits
The abstract is strictly descriptive and narrative, offering no systematic search strategy, inclusion criteria, risk-of-bias assessment, or quantitative clinical outcomes. Evidence combines heterogeneous experimental (cell and animal) models with clinical observations without distinguishing the level of evidence for specific tissue types.
Cited by
- supports Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases oxygen delivery, nerve growth factors, stem cell mobilization, and capillary perfusion.