Altitude acclimatization, hemoglobin-oxygen affinity, and circulatory oxygen transport in hypoxia

Establishment and verification of reference intervals for blood cell analysis in extremely high altitude

Objective

This study aimed to establish the reference intervals for complete blood count (CBC) in healthy adults at very high altitudes.

Methods

This study recruited 4,863 healthy adults (3,598 males and 1,265 females) who received routine health check-ups at Ali District People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 through the LIS system. CBC was detected by the XT-4000i automatic cell analyzer and statistically analyzed by SPSS 23.0 software (between-groups comparison, diagnostic concordance comparison). In addition, 20 health check samples were collected in 2022 to validate the established reference intervals.

Results

The CBC count showed a non-normal distribution in each item separately. The white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NEUT), lymphocyte (LYMPH), monocyte (MONO), eosinophil (EO), basophil (BASO), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean hemoglobin content (MCH), and mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) levels of healthy adults were significantly different from the national clinical reference range (p < 0.05). There were significant differences between males and females in RBC, HGB, and HCT levels (p < 0.05). The new reference intervals were less consistent with the expert consensus CBC reference intervals (p < 0.05). Compared with the other reference intervals, the diagnostic value of the reference screening interval established was significantly higher in this study (p < 0.05). The reference range established is verified by 20 independent samples from 2022, and the results are acceptable.

Conclusion

This study preliminarily established reference intervals for complete blood counts of healthy adults at high altitudes in the Ali region of Tibet to provide a reference point for understanding routine blood markers in permanent residents of high-altitude environments and illustrate the need for regular establishment of laboratory reference intervals on a regular basis.

Local adaptation, plasticity, and evolved resistance to hypoxic cold stress in high-altitude deer mice

A fundamental question in evolutionary biology concerns the relative contributions of phenotypic plasticity vs. local adaptation (genotypic specialization) in enabling wide-ranging species to inhabit diverse environmental conditions. Here, we conduct a long-term hypoxia acclimation experiment to assess the relative roles of local adaptation and plasticity in enabling highland and lowland deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) to sustain aerobic thermogenesis at progressively increasing elevations. We assessed the relative physiological performance capacities of highland and lowland natives as they were exposed to progressive, stepwise increases in hypoxia, simulating the gradual ascent from sea level to an elevation of 6,000 m. The final elevation of 6,000 m far exceeds the highest attainable elevations within the species' range, and therefore tests the animals' ability to tolerate levels of hypoxia that surpass the prevailing conditions within their current distributional limits. Our results demonstrate that highland natives exhibit superior thermogenic capacities at the most severe levels of hypoxia, suggesting that the species' broad fundamental niche and its ability to inhabit such a broad range of elevational zones is attributable to genetically based local adaptation, including evolved changes in plasticity. Transcriptomic and physiological measurements identify evolved changes in the acclimation response to hypoxia that contribute to the enhanced thermogenic capacity of highland natives.

Ameliorating effects of the HIF-2α inhibitor PT2385 on high-altitude polycythemia

High-altitude polycythemia (HAPC) is a common chronic altitude disease caused by living in low-pressure and low-oxygen environment. At present, there is still no effective cure for HAPC. HIF-2α may play an important role in the development of HAPC in regulating the increased red blood cell excessively induced by HIF-EPO and the blood vessel formation induced by VEGF-VEGFR. Here, we established a rat HAPC model and treated it with the HIF-2α inhibitor PT2385. We mainly evaluated the therapeutic effect of PT2385 on HAPC rats by observing the changes in rat phenotype, tissue and organ damage, red blood cell and hemoglobin content, angiogenesis, lipid peroxidation reaction, and inflammatory factors. The results showed that PT2385 treatment improved the congestion phenotype characteristics, inhibited increased erythrocytes and hemoglobin, reduced blood vessel formation, lipid peroxidation, and inflammation, and reduced tissue and organ damage in HAPC rats. This study preliminarly explains the physiological, pathological, and immunological effects of PT2385 treatment for HAPC. It provides a new idea, a reliable experimental basis, and theoretical support for the clinical prevention and treatment of HAPC.

Nitric Oxide Ameliorates the Effects of Hypoxia in Mice by Regulating Oxygen Transport by Hemoglobin

Xiaoying Zhou, Wenting Su, Quanwei Bao, Yu Cui, Xiaoxu Li, Yidong Yang, Chengzhong Yang, Chengyuan Wang, Li Jiao, Dewei Chen, and Jian Huang. Nitric oxide ameliorates the effects of hypoxia in mice by regulating oxygen transport by hemoglobin. High Alt Med Biol. 25:174-185, 2024.-Hypoxia is a common pathological and physiological phenomenon in ischemia, cancer, and strenuous exercise. Nitric oxide (NO) acts as an endothelium-derived relaxing factor in hypoxic vasodilation and serves as an allosteric regulator of hemoglobin (Hb). However, the ultimate effects of NO on the hematological system in vivo remain unknown, especially in extreme environmental hypoxia. Whether NO regulation of the structure of Hb improves oxygen transport remains unclear. Hence, we examined whether NO altered the oxygen affinity of Hb (Hb-O2 affinity) to protect extremely hypoxic mice. Mice were exposed to severe hypoxia with various concentrations of NO, and the survival time, exercise capacity, and other physical indexes were recorded. The survival time was prolonged in the 5 ppm NO (6.09 ± 1.29 minutes) and 10 ppm NO (6.39 ± 1.58 minutes) groups compared with the 0 ppm group (4.98 ± 1.23 minutes). Hypoxia of the brain was relieved, and the exercise exhaustion time was prolonged when mice inhaled 20 ppm NO (24.70 ± 6.87 minutes vs. 20.23 ± 6.51 minutes). In addition, the differences in arterial oxygen saturation (SO2%) (49.64 ± 7.29% vs. 42.90 ± 4.30%) and arteriovenous SO2% difference (25.14 ± 8.95% vs. 18.10 ± 6.90%) obviously increased. In ex vivo experiments, the oxygen equilibrium curve (OEC) left shifted as P50 decreased from 43.77 ± 2.49 mmHg (0 ppm NO) to 40.97 ± 1.40 mmHg (100 ppm NO) and 38.36 ± 2.78 mmHg (200 ppm NO). Furthermore, the Bohr effect of Hb was enhanced by the introduction of 200 ppm NO (-0.72 ± 0.062 vs.-0.65 ± 0.051), possibly allowing Hb to more easily offload oxygen in tissue at lower pH. The crystal structure reveals a greater distance between Asp94β-His146β in nitrosyl -Hb(NO-Hb), NO-HbβCSO93, and S-NitrosoHb(SNO-Hb) compared to tense Hb(T-Hb, 3.7 Å, 4.3 Å, and 5.8 Å respectively, versus 3.5 Å for T-Hb). Moreover, hydrogen bonds were less likely to form, representing a key limitation of relaxed Hb (R-Hb). Upon NO interaction with Hb, hydrogen bonds and salt bridges were less favored, facilitating relaxation. We speculated that NO ameliorated the effects of hypoxia in mice by promoting erythrocyte oxygen loading in the lung and offloading in tissues.

Changes in hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory responses at high altitude measured using rebreathing methods

Ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia play a vital role in maintaining gas exchange homeostasis and in adaptation to high-altitude environments. This study investigates the mechanisms underlying sensitization of hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory response (HVR and HCVR, respectively) in individuals acclimatized to moderate high altitude (3,800 m). Thirty-one participants underwent chemoreflex testing using the Duffin-modified rebreathing technique. Measures were taken at sea level and after 2 days of acclimatization to high altitude. Ventilatory recruitment threshold (VRT), HCVR-Hyperoxia, HCVR-Hypoxia, and HVR were quantified. Acclimatization to high altitude resulted in increased HVR (P < 0.001) and HCVR-Hyperoxia (P < 0.001), as expected. We also observed that the decrease in VRT under hypoxic test conditions significantly contributed to the elevated HVR at high altitude since the change in VRT across hyperoxic and hypoxic test conditions was greater at high altitudes compared to baseline sea-level tests (P = 0.043). Pre-VRT, or basal, ventilation also increased at high altitudes (P < 0.001), but the change did not differ between oxygen conditions. Taken together, these data suggest that the increase in HVR at high altitude is at least partially driven by a larger decrease in the VRT in hypoxia versus hyperoxia at high altitude compared to sea level. This study highlights the intricacies of respiratory adaptations during acclimatization to moderate high altitude, shedding light on the roles of the VRT, baseline respiratory drive, and two-slope HCVR in this process. These findings contribute to our understanding of how human respiratory control responds to hypoxic and hypercapnic challenges at high altitude.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We report the first measurements of the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) after 2 days at high altitude using a CO2 rebreathing technique. We evaluated mechanisms by which the HVR becomes elevated with acclimatization (increased hypercapnic ventilatory response sensitivity in hypoxia, increased baseline respiratory drive in hypoxia, or lower ventilatory recruitment thresholds in hypoxia). For the first time, we report that decreases in the ventilatory recruitment threshold in hypoxia contribute to elevated HVR at high altitude.

Local adaptation, plasticity, and evolved resistance to hypoxic cold stress in high-altitude deer mice

A fundamental question in evolutionary biology concerns the relative contributions of phenotypic plasticity vs. local adaptation (genotypic specialization) in enabling wide-ranging species to inhabit diverse environmental conditions. Here we conduct a long-term hypoxia acclimation experiment to assess the relative roles of local adaptation and plasticity in enabling highland and lowland deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) to sustain aerobic thermogenesis at progressively increasing elevations. We assessed the relative physiological performance capacities of highland and lowland natives as they were exposed to progressive, stepwise increases in hypoxia, simulating the gradual ascent from sea level to an elevation of 6000 m. The final elevation of 6000 m far exceeds the highest attainable elevations within the species' range, and therefore tests the animals' ability to tolerate levels of hypoxia that surpass the prevailing conditions within their current distributional limits. Our results demonstrate that highland natives exhibit superior thermogenic capacities at the most severe levels of hypoxia, suggesting that the species' broad fundamental niche and its ability to inhabit such a broad range of elevational zones is attributable to a combination of genetically based local adaptation and plasticity. Transcriptomic and physiological measurements identify evolved changes in the acclimation response to hypoxia that contribute to the enhanced thermogenic capacity of highland natives.

Metabolite and protein shifts in mature erythrocyte under hypoxia

As the only cell type responsible for oxygen delivery, erythrocytes play a crucial role in supplying oxygen to hypoxic tissues, ensuring their normal functions. Hypoxia commonly occurs under physiological or pathological conditions, and understanding how erythrocytes adapt to hypoxia is fundamental for exploring the mechanisms of hypoxic diseases. Additionally, investigating acute and chronic mountain sickness caused by plateaus, which are naturally hypoxic environments, will aid in the study of hypoxic diseases. In recent years, increasingly developed proteomics and metabolomics technologies have become powerful tools for studying mature enucleated erythrocytes, which has significantly contributed to clarifying how hypoxia affects erythrocytes. The aim of this article is to summarize the composition of the cytoskeleton and cytoplasmic proteins of hypoxia-altered erythrocytes and explore the impact of hypoxia on their essential functions. Furthermore, we discuss the role of microRNAs in the adaptation of erythrocytes to hypoxia, providing new perspectives on hypoxia-related diseases.

Multiomics Analyses Provide New Insight into Genetic Variation of Reproductive Adaptability in Tibetan Sheep

Domestication and artificial selection during production-oriented breeding have greatly shaped the level of genomic variability in sheep. However, the genetic variation associated with increased reproduction remains elusive. Here, two groups of samples from consecutively monotocous and polytocous sheep were collected for genome-wide association, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses to explore the genetic variation in fecundity in Tibetan sheep. Genome-wide association study revealed strong associations between BMPR1B (p.Q249R) and litter size, as well as between PAPPA and lambing interval; these findings were validated in 1,130 individuals. Furthermore, we constructed the first single-cell atlas of Tibetan sheep ovary tissues and identified a specific mural granulosa cell subtype with PAPPA-specific expression and differential expression of BMPR1B between the two groups. Bulk RNA-seq indicated that BMPR1B and PAPPA expressions were similar between the two groups of sheep. 3D protein structure prediction and coimmunoprecipitation analysis indicated that mutation and mutually exclusive exons of BMPR1B are the main mechanisms for prolific Tibetan sheep. We propose that PAPPA is a key gene for stimulating ovarian follicular growth and development, and steroidogenesis. Our work reveals the genetic variation in reproductive performance in Tibetan sheep, providing insights and valuable genetic resources for the discovery of genes and regulatory mechanisms that improve reproductive success.

Genomic structural variation is associated with hypoxia adaptation in high-altitude zokors

Zokors, an Asiatic group of subterranean rodents, originated in lowlands and colonized high-elevational zones following the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau about 3.6 million years ago. Zokors live at high elevation in subterranean burrows and experience hypobaric hypoxia, including both hypoxia (low oxygen concentration) and hypercapnia (elevated partial pressure of CO2). Here we report a genomic analysis of six zokor species (genus Eospalax) with different elevational ranges to identify structural variants (deletions and inversions) that may have contributed to high-elevation adaptation. Based on an assembly of a chromosome-level genome of the high-elevation species, Eospalax baileyi, we identified 18 large inversions that distinguished this species from congeners native to lower elevations. Small-scale structural variants in the introns of EGLN1, HIF1A, HSF1 and SFTPD of E. baileyi were associated with the upregulated expression of those genes. A rearrangement on chromosome 1 was associated with altered chromatin accessibility, leading to modified gene expression profiles of key genes involved in the physiological response to hypoxia. Multigene families that underwent copy-number expansions in E. baileyi were enriched for autophagy, HIF1 signalling and immune response. E. baileyi show a significantly larger lung mass than those of other Eospalax species. These findings highlight the key role of structural variants underlying hypoxia adaptation of high-elevation species in Eospalax.

Association between hemoglobin concentration and hypertension risk in native Tibetans at high altitude

Previous studies examining the association between hemoglobin concentration and hypertension have yielded inconsistent results. There is still a lack of evidence regarding the association between hemoglobin concentration and hypertension risk in native Tibetans at high altitude. We performed this cross-sectional study in Luhuo County of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (average altitude of 3500 m). In this study, we enrolled 1547 native Tibetans. The association between hemoglobin concentration and hypertension risk was examined by multivariate binary logistic regression and smooth curve fitting. Native Tibetans with hypertension had significantly higher hemoglobin concentrations than those without hypertension (165.9 ± 21.5 g/L vs. 157.7 ± 19.2 g/L, P < 0.001). An increase in hemoglobin concentration of 1 g/L was associated with hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.02) after confounder adjustment. The highest hemoglobin concentration group (exceeding 173 g/L) was associated with an increased hypertension risk compared with the bottom quartile of hemoglobin concentration (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.48-3.85). Hemoglobin concentration (per 1 g/L change) exceeding 176 g/L was significantly associated with an increased hypertension risk (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03-1.06). Additionally, high-altitude polycythemia significantly increased the hypertension risk compared with a normal hemoglobin concentration (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.25-6.86). A similar result was observed for mild polycythemia (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.29-2.34). In conclusion, hemoglobin concentration was associated with hypertension risk in native Tibetans. When the hemoglobin concentration exceeded a certain value (approximately 176 g/L), the risk of hypertension was significantly increased.

Exposure to Intermittent Environmental Hypoxia Promotes Vascular Remodeling through Angiogenesis in the Liver of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

In this study, we explored the effects of 4 weeks of intermittent hypoxic exposure (IHE) on liver angiogenesis and related regulatory mechanisms in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The results indicated that the O2 tension for loss of equilibrium (LOE) decreased from 1.17 to 0.66 mg/L after 4 weeks of IHE. Meanwhile, the red blood cell (RBC) and hemoglobin concentrations significantly increased during IHE. Our investigation also found that the observed increase in angiogenesis was correlated with a high expression of related regulators, such as Jagged, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). After 4 weeks of IHE, the overexpression of factors related to angiogenesis processes mediated by HIF-independent pathways (such as nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1), and interleukin 8 (IL8)) was correlated with the accumulation of lactic acid (LA) in the liver. The addition of cabozantinib, a specific inhibitor of VEGFR2, blocked the phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and downregulated the expression of downstream angiogenesis regulators in largemouth bass hepatocytes exposed to hypoxia for 4 h. These results suggested that IHE promoted liver vascular remodeling by the regulation of angiogenesis factors, presenting a potential mechanism for the improvement of hypoxia tolerance in largemouth bass.

Longitudinal study on blood and biochemical indexes of Tibetan and Han in high altitude area

Objective

This study aims to review the blood routine and biochemical indicators of the plateau population for three consecutive years, and analyze the impact of the plateau on these blood indicators of the Tibetan population and the Han immigrant population.

Method

These parameters were extracted from the Laboratory Department of Ali District People's Hospital in Tibet from January 2019 to December 2021, including blood routine, liver and kidney function, blood lipids, myocardial enzyme spectrum, and rheumatic factor indicators. Changes in these parameters were analyzed over 3 consecutive years according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Result

A total of 114 Tibetans and 93 Hans participated in the study. These parameters were significantly different between Tibetan and Han populations. Red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean hemoglobin content (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes (LYMPH) and monocytes (MONO) were significantly higher in Hans than Tibetans (p < 0.05). Biochemically, total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), albumin (ALB), urea nitrogen (Urea), creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), glucose (GLU), triglycerides (TG) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CKMB) were significantly higher in Hans than Tibetans; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), antistreptolysin (ASO), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher in Tibetans than Hans (p < 0.05). There were no obvious continuous upward or downward trend of the parameters for 3 consecutive years.

Conclusion

In high-altitude areas, Han immigrants have long-term stress changes compared with Tibetans. The main differences are reflected in the blood system, liver and kidney functions, etc., which provide basic data for further research on the health status of plateau populations.

Exercise performance reduction and preventive measures in highland sports

The plateau is a special environment with low pressure, low oxygen, low temperature, and high ultraviolet radiation. The exercise performance of people on the plateau is generally reduced, which seriously affects the life and health of people living in the plateau and entering the plateau. In recent years, the prevention and treatment of injury caused by high altitude hypoxia has attracted wide attention. It has shown that the higher the altitude with the longer the duration of exercise, the faster the stationing, the greater the impact on people's sports performance. Rapid entry into the plateau and long-term stay in the plateau have an impact on people's explosive power, endurance and fine operation. Advances in medical technology enable various prevention methods to be used to acclimate to high altitude environments. However, in vitro intervention methods are costly, easy to rebound and possess limited effects. Therefore, drug prevention and treatment is obviously a more economical choice. Chemical drugs increase the efficiency of high altitude exercise by improving the ischemic and hypoxic symptoms of the heart and brain, increasing lung ventilation and arterial oxygenation capacity, and accelerating the elimination of adverse product accumulation after exercise. Single Chinese medicine, Chinese patent medicine, and compound preparations can improve exercise performance by promoting body metabolism, improving muscle endurance, enhancing immunity, and other mechanisms. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantage and application prospect in improving plateau sports performance damage.

Revisiting cardiac output estimated noninvasively from oxygen uptake during exercise: an exploratory hypothesis-generating replication study

Stringer et al. [J Appl Physiol (1985) 82: 908-912, 1997] developed a method from invasive data to estimate cardiac output during incremental exercise testing based on Fick's principle. The authors proposed that the arterio-mixed venous oxygen content difference increases linearly with percentage of maximal O2 consumption. We hypothesized an S-shaped pattern in the published data and calculated the inflection point of this curve and of the standard resting oxygen dissociation curve. Using a partial F test, we compared the linear model with a third-order polynomial model, which showed a better fit to the data [F(2,101) = 9.5, P < 0.001]. This finding was reproduced in a dataset published by Åstrand et al. in 1964 [F(2, 122) = 10.6, P < 0.001]. The inflection point of the curve coincided with the lactate acidosis threshold [first ventilatory threshold (VT1)] as measured by Stringer et al. (VT1 at 50% and inflection point at 56% [95% CI, 52.9 to 60.7] of maximal O2 consumption). The inflection point of the standard resting oxygen dissociation curve was calculated at a partial pressure of 21.5 mmHg and a saturation of 36%, matching the "critical capillary Po2" concept of Stringer et al. (21.2 mmHg). We conclude that the arterio-mixed venous oxygen content difference increases in an S-shaped manner with percentage of maximal oxygen consumption and that the inflection point of this curve may correspond to VT1 and that of the in vivo oxygen dissociation curve. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and improve the method.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In 1997, Stringer, Hansen, and Wasserman developed a method for estimating cardiac output during incremental exercise testing. They observed that the arterio-mixed venous oxygen content difference increases linearly with the percentage of maximal O2 consumption. This increase may be better modelled by an S-shaped function, the inflection point of which may be related to the first ventilatory threshold and the inflection point of the oxygen dissociation curve. This finding may help to improve the method.

Smartwatch-Based Maximum Oxygen Consumption Measurement for Predicting Acute Mountain Sickness: Diagnostic Accuracy Evaluation Study

BACKGROUND

Cardiorespiratory fitness plays an important role in coping with hypoxic stress at high altitudes. However, the association of cardiorespiratory fitness with the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS) has not yet been evaluated. Wearable technology devices provide a feasible assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness, which is quantifiable as maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and may contribute to AMS prediction.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the validity of VO2max estimated by the smartwatch test (SWT), which can be self-administered, in order to overcome the limitations of clinical VO2max measurements. We also aimed to evaluate the performance of a VO2max-SWT-based model in predicting susceptibility to AMS.

METHODS

Both SWT and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) were performed for VO2max measurements in 46 healthy participants at low altitude (300 m) and in 41 of them at high altitude (3900 m). The characteristics of the red blood cells and hemoglobin levels in all the participants were analyzed by routine blood examination before the exercise tests. The Bland-Altman method was used for bias and precision assessment. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze the correlation between AMS and the candidate variables. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the efficacy of VO2max in predicting AMS.

RESULTS

VO2max decreased after acute high altitude exposure, as measured by CPET (25.20 [SD 6.46] vs 30.17 [SD 5.01] at low altitude; P<.001) and SWT (26.17 [SD 6.71] vs 31.28 [SD 5.17] at low altitude; P<.001). Both at low and high altitudes, VO2max was slightly overestimated by SWT but had considerable accuracy as the mean absolute percentage error (<7%) and mean absolute error (<2 mL·kg-1·min-1), with a relatively small bias compared with VO2max-CPET. Twenty of the 46 participants developed AMS at 3900 m, and their VO2max was significantly lower than that of those without AMS (CPET: 27.80 [SD 4.55] vs 32.00 [SD 4.64], respectively; P=.004; SWT: 28.00 [IQR 25.25-32.00] vs 32.00 [IQR 30.00-37.00], respectively; P=.001). VO2max-CPET, VO2max-SWT, and red blood cell distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) were found to be independent predictors of AMS. To increase the prediction accuracy, we used combination models. The combination of VO2max-SWT and RDW-CV showed the largest area under the curve for all parameters and models, which increased the area under the curve from 0.785 for VO2max-SWT alone to 0.839.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that the smartwatch device can be a feasible approach for estimating VO2max. In both low and high altitudes, VO2max-SWT showed a systematic bias toward a calibration point, slightly overestimating the proper VO2max when investigated in healthy participants. The SWT-based VO2max at low altitude is an effective indicator of AMS and helps to better identify susceptible individuals following acute high-altitude exposure, particularly by combining the RDW-CV at low altitude.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200059900; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=170253.

Blood Variation Implicates Respiratory Limits on Elevational Ranges of Andean Birds

AbstractThe extent to which species ranges reflect intrinsic physiological tolerances is a major question in evolutionary ecology. To date, consensus has been hindered by the limited tractability of experimental approaches across most of the tree of life. Here, we apply a macrophysiological approach to understand how hematological traits related to oxygen transport shape elevational ranges in a tropical biodiversity hot spot. Along Andean elevational gradients, we measured traits that affect blood oxygen-carrying capacity-total and cellular hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit, the volume percentage of red blood cells-for 2,355 individuals of 136 bird species. We used these data to evaluate the influence of hematological traits on elevational ranges. First, we asked whether the sensitivity of hematological traits to changes in elevation is predictive of elevational range breadth. Second, we asked whether variance in hematological traits changed as a function of distance to the nearest elevational range limit. We found that birds showing greater hematological sensitivity had broader elevational ranges, consistent with the idea that a greater acclimatization capacity facilitates elevational range expansion. We further found reduced variation in hematological traits in birds sampled near their elevational range limits and at high absolute elevations, patterns consistent with intensified natural selection, reduced effective population size, or compensatory changes in other cardiorespiratory traits. Our findings suggest that constraints on hematological sensitivity and local genetic adaptation to oxygen availability promote the evolution of the narrow elevational ranges that underpin tropical montane biodiversity.

Remote ischemic preconditioning improves spatial memory and sleep of young males during acute high-altitude exposure

OBJECTIVE

The high-altitude hypoxia environment will cause poor acclimatization in a portion of the population. Remote ischemic preconditioning（RIPC）has been demonstrated to prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases under ischemic or hypoxic conditions. However, its role in improving acclimatization and preventing acute mountain sickness (AMS) at high altitude has been undetermined. This study aims to estimate the effect of RIPC on acclimatization of individuals exposed to high altitude.

METHODS

The project was designed as a randomized controlled trial with 82 healthy young males, who received RIPC training once a day for 7 consecutive days. Then they were transported by aircraft to a high altitude (3680 m) and examined for 6 days. Lake Louise Score(LLS) of AMS, physiological index, self-reported sleep pattern, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index（PSQI）score were applied to assess the acclimatization to the high altitude. Five neurobehavioral tests were conducted to assess cognitive function.

RESULTS

The result showed that the RIPC group had a significantly lower AMSscore than the control group (2.43 ± 1.58 vs 3.29 ± 2.03, respectively; adjusted mean difference-0.84, 95% confidence interval-1.61 to -0.06, P = 0.036). and there was no significant difference in AMS incidence between the two groups (25.0% vs 28.57%, P = 0.555). The RIPC group performed better than the control group in spatial memory span score (11[9-12] vs 10[7.5-11], P=0.025) and the passing digit (7[6-7.5] vs 6[5-7], P= 0.001). Spatial memory was significantly higher in the high-altitude RIPC group than in the low-altitude RIPC group (P＜0.01). And the RIPC group obtained significantly lower self-reported sleep quality score (P = 0.024) and PSQI score (P = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

The RIPC treatment improved spatial memory and sleep quality in subjects exposed to acute hypoxic exposure and this may lead to improved performance at high altitude.

Microevolutionary mechanism of high-altitude adaptation in Tibetan chicken populations from an elevation gradient

As an indigenous breed, the Tibetan chicken is found in highland regions and shows physiological adaptations to high altitude; however, the genetic changes that determine these adaptations remain elusive. We assumed that the microevolution of the Tibetan chicken occurred from lowland to highland regions with a continuous elevation range. In this study, we analyzed the genome of 188 chickens from lowland areas to the high-altitude regions of the Tibetan plateau with four altitudinal levels. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Tibetan chickens are significantly different from other altitude chicken populations. Reconstruction of the demographic history showed that the migration and admixture events of the Tibetan chicken occurred at different times. The genome of the Tibetan chicken was also used to analyze positive selection pressure that is associated with high-altitude adaptation, revealing the well-known candidate gene that participates in oxygen binding (HBAD), as well as other novel potential genes (e.g., HRG and ANK2) that are related to blood coagulation and cardiovascular efficiency. Our study provides novel insights regarding the evolutionary history and microevolution mechanisms of the high-altitude adaptation in the Tibetan chicken.

Structure and activity alteration in adult highland residents' cerebrum: Voxel-based morphometry and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation study

Introduction

People living in highland areas may have factors that allow them to adapt to chronic hypoxia, but these physiological mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the brain mechanism in a cohort of adult residents of Tibet, a well-known plateau section in China, by observing differences in brain structure and function in non-plateau populations.

Methods

The study included 27 Tibetan and 27 non-plateau region residents who were matched in age, sex, and education. All participants underwent high-resolution three-dimensional T1 weighted imaging (3D-T1WI) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans on a 1.5 Tesla MR. Gray matter volumes and regional spontaneous neuronal activity (SNA) were calculated and compared between the two groups.

Results

When comparing gray matter in people living in high altitudes to those living in the flatlands, the results showed positive activation of gray matter in local brain regions (p < 0.05, false discovery rate (FDR) corrected), in the right postcentral [automated atomic labeling (aal)], left postcentral (aal), and right lingual (aal) regions. Comparing the people of high altitude vs. flat land in the brain function study (p < 0.05, FDR corrected), positive activation was found in the right superior motor area (aal) and left superior frontal (aal), and negative activation was found in the right precuneus (aal).

Conclusion

In high-altitude individuals, larger regional gray matter volumes and higher SNA may represent a compensatory mechanism to adapt to chronic hypoxia.

Time Domains of Hypoxia Responses and -Omics Insights

The ability to respond rapidly to changes in oxygen tension is critical for many forms of life. Challenges to oxygen homeostasis, specifically in the contexts of evolutionary biology and biomedicine, provide important insights into mechanisms of hypoxia adaptation and tolerance. Here we synthesize findings across varying time domains of hypoxia in terms of oxygen delivery, ranging from early animal to modern human evolution and examine the potential impacts of environmental and clinical challenges through emerging multi-omics approaches. We discuss how diverse animal species have adapted to hypoxic environments, how humans vary in their responses to hypoxia (i.e., in the context of high-altitude exposure, cardiopulmonary disease, and sleep apnea), and how findings from each of these fields inform the other and lead to promising new directions in basic and clinical hypoxia research.