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Aboouf MA, Thiel CS, Borisov SM, Tauber S, Bönzli E, Schetle N, Ullrich O, Gassmann M, Vogel J. Expression of hypoxia-inducible genes is suppressed in altered gravity due to impaired nuclear HIF1α accumulation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14514. [PMID: 37666879 PMCID: PMC10477221 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41686-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extravehicular activities, the backbone of manned space exploration programs, set astronauts into mild hypoxia. Unfortunately, microgravity aggravates threatening symptoms of hypoxia such as vision impairment and brain edema. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) sense cellular hypoxia and, subsequently, change the cells' expression profile instantaneously by rapidly translocating-most likely cytoskeleton-dependently-into the nucleus and subsequently forming transcription complexes with other proteins. We tested the hypothesis that this fundamental process could be altered by sudden changes in gravitational forces in parabolic flights using a newly developed pocket-size cell culture lab that deoxygenizes cells within 15 min. Sudden gravity changes (SGCs 1g-1.8g-0g-1.8g-1g) during hypoxic exposure suppressed expression of the HIF1α-dependent genes investigated as compared with hypoxia at constant 1g. Normoxic cells subjected to SGCs showed reduced nuclear but not cytoplasmatic HIF1α signal and appeared to have disturbed cytoskeleton architecture. Inhibition of the actin-dependent intracellular transport using a combination of myosin V and VI inhibitors during hypoxia mimicked the suppression of the HIF1α-dependent genes observed during hypoxic exposure during SGCs. Thus, SGCs seem to disrupt the cellular response to hypoxia by impairing the actin-dependent translocation of HIF1α into the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa A Aboouf
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Center for Clinical Studies, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt.
| | - Cora S Thiel
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- UZH Space Hub, Air Force Center, Air Base Dübendorf, Überlandstrasse 270, 8600, Dubendorf, Switzerland
| | - Sergey M Borisov
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Svantje Tauber
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- UZH Space Hub, Air Force Center, Air Base Dübendorf, Überlandstrasse 270, 8600, Dubendorf, Switzerland
| | - Eva Bönzli
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Center for Clinical Studies, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Clinical Laboratory, Department for Clinical Services and Diagnostics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nelli Schetle
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Ullrich
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- UZH Space Hub, Air Force Center, Air Base Dübendorf, Überlandstrasse 270, 8600, Dubendorf, Switzerland
| | - Max Gassmann
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- UZH Space Hub, Air Force Center, Air Base Dübendorf, Überlandstrasse 270, 8600, Dubendorf, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Vogel
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- UZH Space Hub, Air Force Center, Air Base Dübendorf, Überlandstrasse 270, 8600, Dubendorf, Switzerland
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Ehrenreich H, Gassmann M, Poustka L, Burtscher M, Hammermann P, Sirén AL, Nave KA, Miskowiak K. Exploiting moderate hypoxia to benefit patients with brain disease: Molecular mechanisms and translational research in progress. NEUROPROTECTION 2023; 1:9-19. [PMID: 37671067 PMCID: PMC7615021 DOI: 10.1002/nep3.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia is increasingly recognized as an important physiological driving force. A specific transcriptional program, induced by a decrease in oxygen (O2) availability, for example, inspiratory hypoxia at high altitude, allows cells to adapt to lower O2 and limited energy metabolism. This transcriptional program is partly controlled by and partly independent of hypoxia-inducible factors. Remarkably, this same transcriptional program is stimulated in the brain by extensive motor-cognitive exercise, leading to a relative decrease in O2 supply, compared to the acutely augmented O2 requirement. We have coined the term "functional hypoxia" for this important demand-responsive, relative reduction in O2 availability. Functional hypoxia seems to be critical for enduring adaptation to higher physiological challenge that includes substantial "brain hardware upgrade," underlying advanced performance. Hypoxia-induced erythropoietin expression in the brain likely plays a decisive role in these processes, which can be imitated by recombinant human erythropoietin treatment. This article review presents hints of how inspiratory O2 manipulations can potentially contribute to enhanced brain function. It thereby provides the ground for exploiting moderate inspiratory plus functional hypoxia to treat individuals with brain disease. Finally, it sketches a planned multistep pilot study in healthy volunteers and first patients, about to start, aiming at improved performance upon motor-cognitive training under inspiratory hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannelore Ehrenreich
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Max Gassmann
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology and Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Luise Poustka
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martin Burtscher
- Faculty of Sports Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Anna-Leena Sirén
- Departments of Neurophysiology and Neurosurgery, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus-Armin Nave
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kamilla Miskowiak
- Psychiatric Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Song J, Sundar KM, Horvathova M, Gangaraju R, Indrak K, Christensen RD, Genzor S, Lundby C, Divoky V, Ganz T, Prchal JT. Increased blood reactive oxygen species and hepcidin in obstructive sleep apnea precludes expected erythrocytosis. Am J Hematol 2023; 98:1265-1276. [PMID: 37350302 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes intermittent hypoxia during sleep. Hypoxia predictably initiates an increase in the blood hemoglobin concentration (Hb); yet in our analysis of 527 patients with OSA, >98% did not have an elevated Hb. To understand why patients with OSA do not develop secondary erythrocytosis due to intermittent hypoxia, we first hypothesized that erythrocytosis occurs in these patients, but is masked by a concomitant increase in plasma volume. However, we excluded that explanation by finding that the red cell mass was normal (measured by radionuclide labeling of erythrocytes and carbon monoxide inhalation). We next studied 45 patients with OSA before and after applying continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). We found accelerated erythropoiesis in these patients (increased erythropoietin and reticulocytosis), but it was offset by neocytolysis (lysis of erythrocytes newly generated in hypoxia upon return to normoxia). Parameters of neocytolysis included increased reactive oxygen species from expanded reticulocytes' mitochondria. The antioxidant catalase was also downregulated in these cells from hypoxia-stimulated microRNA-21. In addition, inflammation-induced hepcidin limited iron availability for erythropoiesis. After CPAP, some of these intermediaries diminished but Hb did not change. We conclude that in OSA, the absence of significant increase in red cell mass is integral to the pathogenesis, and results from hemolysis via neocytolysis combined with inflammation-mediated suppression of erythropoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihyun Song
- Division of Hematology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Krishna M Sundar
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Monika Horvathova
- Department of Biology, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Radhika Gangaraju
- Division of Hematology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Karel Indrak
- Department of Hemato-Oncology, Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc (PUUHO), Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | | | - Samuel Genzor
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, PUUHO, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Carsten Lundby
- Centre for Physical Activity Research, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vladimir Divoky
- Department of Biology, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Ganz
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Josef T Prchal
- Division of Hematology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Arias-Reyes C, Carvajal-Rodriguez F, Poma-Machicao L, Aliaga-Raduán F, Marques DA, Zubieta-DeUrioste N, Accinelli RA, Schneider-Gasser EM, Zubieta-Calleja G, Dutschmann M, Soliz J. Decreased incidence, virus transmission capacity, and severity of COVID-19 at altitude on the American continent. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0237294. [PMID: 33780470 PMCID: PMC8006995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in North, Central, and South America has become the epicenter of the current pandemic. We have suggested previously that the infection rate of this virus might be lower in people living at high altitude (over 2,500 m) compared to that in the lowlands. Based on data from official sources, we performed a new epidemiological analysis of the development of the pandemic in 23 countries on the American continent as of May 23, 2020. Our results confirm our previous finding, further showing that the incidence of COVID-19 on the American continent decreases significantly starting at 1,000 m above sea level (masl). Moreover, epidemiological modeling indicates that the virus transmission rate is lower in the highlands (>1,000 masl) than in the lowlands (<1,000 masl). Finally, evaluating the differences in the recovery percentage of patients, the death-to-case ratio, and the theoretical fraction of undiagnosed cases, we found that the severity of COVID-19 is also decreased above 1,000 m. We conclude that the impact of the COVID-19 decreases significantly with altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Arias-Reyes
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Institute Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Québec, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Favio Carvajal-Rodriguez
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Institute Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Québec, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Liliana Poma-Machicao
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Institute Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Québec, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Fernanda Aliaga-Raduán
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Institute Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Québec, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Danuzia A. Marques
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Institute Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Québec, Quebec City, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Mathias Dutschmann
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jorge Soliz
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Institute Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Québec, Quebec City, Canada
- High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute (HAPPI-IPPA), La Paz, Bolivia
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5
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Muckenthaler MU, Mairbäurl H, Gassmann M. Iron metabolism in high-altitude residents. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2020; 129:920-925. [PMID: 32853112 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00019.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Residents at high altitude cope with decreasing inspiratory oxygen partial pressure by stimulating erythropoiesis. The increase in hemoglobin levels requires high amounts of additional iron supplied from the diet. Here, we review available data on how iron metabolism adapts when living in a hypoxic environment. Our analysis reveals that long-term adaptation to high altitude enables healthy individuals to maintain their iron stores within the physiological range despite elevated requirements for erythropoiesis. However, in vulnerable populations with increased iron demand (e.g., pregnant women or exercising individuals), iron stores are less likely to be replenished quickly when living at high altitude. Future studies need to address whether different ethnicities have acquired genetic mechanisms to adapt to the elevated iron demand for erythropoiesis at high altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina U Muckenthaler
- Pediatric Oncology, Hematology & Immunology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Heimo Mairbäurl
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Pneumology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Max Gassmann
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
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Gassmann NN, Matthes KL, Eppenberger P, Brabec M, Panczak R, Zwahlen M, Bender N, Wyss T, Rühli FJ, Staub K. Residential Altitude Associates With Endurance but Not Muscle Power in Young Swiss Men. Front Physiol 2020; 11:860. [PMID: 32792981 PMCID: PMC7390881 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Physical fitness benefits health. However, there is a research gap on how physical fitness, particularly aerobic endurance capacity and muscle power, is influenced by residential altitude, blood parameters, weight, and other cofactors in a population living at low to moderate altitudes (300–2100 masl). Materials and Methods We explored how endurance and muscle power performance changes with residential altitude, Body Mass Index (BMI), hemoglobin and creatinine levels among 108,677 Swiss men aged 18–22 years (covering >90% of Swiss birth cohorts) conscripted to the Swiss Armed Forces between 2007 and 2012. The test battery included a blood test of about 65%, a physical evaluation of about 85%, and the BMI of all conscripts. Results Residential altitude was significantly associated with endurance (p < 0.001) but not with muscle power performance (p = 0.858) after adjusting for all available cofactors. Higher BMI showed the greatest negative association with both endurance and muscle power performance. For muscle power performance, the association with creatinine levels was significant. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and hemoglobin levels were stronger contributors in explaining endurance than muscle power performance. Conclusion We found a significant association between low to moderate residential altitude and aerobic endurance capacity even after adjustment for hemoglobin, creatinine, BMI and sociodemographic factors. Non-assessed factors such as vitamin D levels, air pollution, and lifestyle aspects may explain the presented remaining association partially and could also be associated with residential altitude. Monitoring the health and fitness of young people and their determinants is important and of practical concern for disease prevention and public health implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norina N Gassmann
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katarina L Matthes
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Eppenberger
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marek Brabec
- Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Radoslav Panczak
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QL, Australia
| | - Marcel Zwahlen
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Bender
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Wyss
- Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM, Magglingen, Switzerland
| | - Frank J Rühli
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kaspar Staub
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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