Prevention of autoimmune diabetes and induction of β-cell proliferation in NOD mice by hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Diabetes. 2012 Jul;61(7):1769-78. doi: 10.2337/db11-0516. Epub 2012 May 7.

Abstract

We evaluated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HOT) on autoimmune diabetes development in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Animals received no treatment or daily 60-min HOT 100% oxygen (HOT-100%) at 2.0 atmospheres absolute and were monitored for diabetes onset, insulitis, infiltrating cells, immune cell function, and β-cell apoptosis and proliferation. Cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes onset was reduced from 85.3% in controls to 48% after HOT-100% (P < 0.005) and paralleled by lower insulitis. Spontaneous diabetes incidence reduced from 85% in controls to 65% in HOT-100% (P = 0.01). Prediabetic mice receiving HOT-100% showed lower insulitis scores, reduced T-cell proliferation upon stimulation in vitro (P < 0.03), increased CD62L expression in T cells (P < 0.04), reduced costimulation markers (CD40, DC80, and CD86), and reduced major histocompatibility complex class II expression in dendritic cells (DCs) (P < 0.025), compared with controls. After autoimmunity was established, HOT was less effective. HOT-100% yielded reduced apoptosis (transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling-positive insulin-positive cells; P < 0.01) and increased proliferation (bromodeoxyuridine incorporation; P < 0.001) of insulin-positive cells compared with controls. HOT reduces autoimmune diabetes incidence in NOD mice via increased resting T cells and reduced activation of DCs with preservation of β-cell mass resulting from decreased apoptosis and increased proliferation. The safety profile and noninvasiveness makes HOT an appealing adjuvant therapy for diabetes prevention and intervention trials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • B7-1 Antigen / immunology
  • B7-2 Antigen / biosynthesis
  • B7-2 Antigen / immunology
  • CD40 Antigens / biosynthesis
  • CD40 Antigens / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Genes, MHC Class II / immunology
  • Hyperbaric Oxygenation*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / immunology
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / physiology*
  • L-Selectin / biosynthesis
  • L-Selectin / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Pancreatitis / immunology
  • Pancreatitis / prevention & control
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • B7-1 Antigen
  • B7-2 Antigen
  • CD40 Antigens
  • Cd86 protein, mouse
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • L-Selectin
  • Cyclophosphamide