Hyperbaric Oxygen Exposure Reduces ICAM-1 And HIF1? Expression in Brain Endothelial Cells from Experimental Cerebral Malaria Mice

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the role of ICAM-1 and HIF-1? in brain endothelial cell of cerebral malaria
mice model after exposure to 2.4 absolute atmospheres (ATA) hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). Thirty-nine
C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: control negative (normal mice without any exposure),
control positive (Plasmodium berghei ANKA [PbA] infection without HBO exposure), and treatment (PbA
infection and exposed to HBO for 10 sessions after the parasite grew). Parasitemia and clinical symptoms
were observed every day. Brain tissues were isolated on day 13 post-infection for histopathological and
immunohistochemical examination (observed at 400x magnification in 10 visual fields). HBO decreased
HIF-1? and ICAM-1 expression in endothelial cells. There was a moderate correlation between HIF-1? and
ICAM-1 expression. Ten HBO sessions prevented cerebral malaria, as denoted by the decreased expression
of ICAM-1 and HIF-1? in brain vascular endothelial cells from the experimental mice.