Researchers explored oxygen therapy as a possible treatment aimed at specific cells associated with cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, and found it did not lead to significant improvements in function in diabetes patients.
A team from the University of Missouri is examining new therapies targeting particular cells involved in the onset of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, including high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
The recent study concentrated on a group of chemoreceptors positioned near the carotid artery in the neck. These cells, when overly active, can indicate an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and related mortality.
Since these chemoreceptors are capable of detecting oxygen levels in the body, the researchers at MU questioned whether adjusting oxygen levels could influence the overactivity of these cells and, in turn, affect cardiovascular and metabolic health.
“Research in rats has shown that eliminating these chemoreceptors when they become too active can alleviate issues like high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar,” stated Jacqueline Limberg, the lead author and an associate professor in nutrition and exercise physiology. “Before considering the complete removal of these receptors in patients, we hypothesized that administering high amounts of oxygen could potentially reduce or ‘turn off’ chemoreceptor activity, thereby improving health outcomes.”
The MU study involved two groups: one with 17 individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and another control group consisting of 20 individuals without diabetes. The research revealed that the peripheral chemoreceptors were indeed excessively active in those with diabetes, with the most pronounced activity occurring in patients exhibiting the highest blood sugar levels.
During a phase of hyperoxia—characterized by elevated oxygen exposure—the activity of the chemoreceptors decreased, alongside reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. However, these effects were consistent across both groups, and there was no significant influence on glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity.
“Our aim was to comprehend how peripheral chemoreceptors contribute to the cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes of type 2 diabetes,” remarked Camila Manrique-Acevedo, co-author and a professor of medicine. “We now recognize that a single episode of hyperoxia does not offer immediate functional improvements. This insight allows us to redirect our focus toward other promising treatments for type 2 diabetes patients.”
Jacqueline Limberg, PhD, is an associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology, affiliated with the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. Camila Manrique-Acevedo, MD, is a professor of medicine and holds the Thomas W. Burns, MD, Distinguished Professorship in Diabetes at the School of Medicine. She is also involved in the NextGen Precision Health initiative.
