Outcome

This innovative study showcases the profound impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on gene expression in the aging population. Administering 60 HBOT sessions over three months at 2 ATA with 100% oxygen resulted in significant transcriptome changes in 35 non-pathological aging adults.

Introduction

Aging is an inevitable part of life often marked by a decline in physiological function and an increased vulnerability to age-associated diseases. Recent research unveils the potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in altering gene expression among the elderly potentially rejuvenating cellular processes. This study explored the effects of HBOT on thirty-five healthy adults aged 64 and above who underwent 60 daily HBOT sessions over three months. Administered at 2 atmospheres absolute (ATA) for 90 minutes with 100% oxygen the therapy resulted in the upregulation of 1342 genes and downregulation of 570 genes equating to significant changes in 1912 genes compared to baseline. Notably genes such as ABCA13 DNAJ6 and HBG2 exhibited substantial downregulation. By providing new insights into gene expression modifications through HBOT this study underscores the potential of this therapy in mitigating aspects of aging suggesting a promising avenue for enhancing the health and vitality of the aging population.

Results

The study investigated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on gene expression in 35 healthy independently living adults aged 64 and older. Participants underwent a regimen of 60 daily HBOT sessions over three months with each session lasting 90 minutes at 2 atmospheres absolute (ATA) with 100% oxygen.

The results revealed significant changes in gene expression following the HBOT regimen with a total of 1912 genes showing altered activity (p < 0.01 FDR). Specifically 1342 genes were upregulated and 570 genes were downregulated compared to baseline levels. Notably five genes exhibited substantial downregulation with a fold change greater than 1.5: ABCA13 DNAJ6 HBG2 PDXDC1 and RANBP17.

Two weeks after completing the HBOT sessions there were still notable changes in gene expression with 11 genes being upregulated and 8 genes downregulated compared to baseline levels. Of particular interest the expression of the ABCA13 gene remained significantly downregulated showing a fold change greater than 1.5. This sustained downregulation of ABCA13 was further validated using RT-qPCR revealing an average fold change of −3.89 ± 4.45 in 12 out of 16 samples where the absolute fold change was greater than 1.5.

Overall this study demonstrates that HBOT can induce significant transcriptome changes in whole blood samples of the normal aging population. The findings suggest that HBOT may beneficially alter gene expression related to aging potentially explaining some of the therapy’s observed benefits in older adults. These transcriptome changes underscore HBOT’s potential as a therapeutic intervention aimed at enhancing physiological functions and mitigating aspects of aging at the molecular level.

Conclusion

In conclusion this study underscores the significant influence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on gene expression in aging adults. By administering 60 daily HBOT sessions over three months the research documented extensive transcriptome modifications with 1342 genes upregulated and 570 genes downregulated. The sustained downregulation of the ABCA13 gene even two weeks post-therapy highlights a particularly noteworthy effect. These findings illuminate how HBOT can modulate genetic activity potentially contributing to healthier aging and reduced vulnerability to age-related diseases. Future research should explore the precise mechanisms behind these genetic changes and their long-term physiological impacts thereby broadening the therapeutic applications of HBOT in the aging population.