Neurogenesis in adults, initiated by injury to the central nervous system (CNS) presents an autologous repair mechanism. It has been suggested that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) enhances neurogenesis which accordingly may improve functional outcome after CNS injury. In this present article we aim to review experimental as well as clinical studies on the subject of HBOT and neurogenesis. We demonstrate hypothetical mechanism of HBOT on cellular transcription factors including hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and cAMP response element binding (CREB). We furthermore reveal the discrepancy between experimental findings and clinical trials in regards of HBOT. Further translational preclinical studies followed by improved clinical trials are needed to elucidate potential benefits of HBOT.
Abounding evidence has shown that HBOT promotes neurogenesis. Future investigations need to be extended to models of neurological diseases, including subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), cerebral hemorrhage, AD, PD, surgical brain injury (SBI) and autism for cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. Furthermore, studies need to be conducted to explore whether HBOT induced neurogenesis leads to a functional improvement followed by large scale, strictly controlled clinical trials to establish HBOT as a prevention and/or treatment modality for neurological diseases.
Mu J, Krafft PR, Zhang JH. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes neurogenesis: where do we stand? Med Gas Res. 2011 Jun 27;1(1):14. doi: 10.1186/2045-9912-1-14. PMID: 22146131; PMCID: PMC3231808.
