The physiological effects of resveratrol and its potential application in high altitude medicine

Resveratrol, as a natural polyphenolic compound, has a wide range of beneficial effects, which includes anti-tumor, cardiovascular protection, anti-oxidant and estrogen-like effects, and so on. Its various physiological properties are closely related to the therapeutic principle for prevention and treatment of high altitude hypoxia injury. Resveratrol may play an important role in relieving or curing high altitude diseases, especially high altitude polycythemia(HAPC). However, the literature about study and application of resveratrol in plateau medicine field is rarely reported up to now. In this review, we summarized the physiological effects of resveratrol, discussed the possible main principle of resveratrol for HAPC therapy, and looked forward to resveratrol's perspective or potential application in high altitude medicine.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of hemoglobin alpha and beta chains from plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) living at high altitude

Hemoglobin (Hb) plays an important role in oxygen transfer from lung to tissues. Possession of a Hb with high oxygen affinity helps highland animals to adapt to high altitude, has been studied profoundly. Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae), a native species living at 3,000-5,000 m above sea level on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is a typical hypoxia and low temperature tolerant mammal. To investigate the possible mechanisms of plateau pika Hb in adaptation to high altitude, the complete cDNA and amino acid sequences of plateau pika hemoglobin alpha and beta chains have been described. Compared with human Hb, alterations in important regions can be noted: alpha111 Ala-->Asn, beta35 Tyr-->Phe, beta112 Cys-->Val, beta115 Ala-->Ser, and beta125 Pro-->Gln. Phylogenetic analysis of alpha and beta chains shows that plateau pika is closer to rabbit than to other species. This study provides essential information for elucidating the possible roles of hemoglobin in adaptation to extremely high altitude in plateau pika.     

Hemoglobin concentration of pastoral nomads permanently resident at 4,850-5,450 meters in Tibet

This paper presents data on the hemoglobin concentration of a sample of 103 pastoral nomads who are lifelong residents of Phala, at 4,850-5,450 m, on the northern plateau of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the Peoples' Republic of China. This native population resides at the highest altitude of which we are aware and is thus exposed to the most extreme chronic hypoxic stress. However, they do not exhibit the most pronounced physiological adaptations, i.e., hemoglobin concentrations exceeding those found in all other high-altitude populations. Adult male and female mean hemoglobin concentrations of 18.2 and 16.7 gm/dl, respectively, were found. These data, in conjunction with earlier studies of ethnic Tibetans living at 3,400 m, demonstrate a pattern of increasing hemoglobin concentration (erythrocytosis) at increasing altitude of residence in the Himalayas and Tibet. At the same time, however, the hemoglobin concentration is lower than that found among Andean highlanders. These new data raise the possibility of quantitative population differences in hematological adaptation to high altitude hypoxia.     

大鼠急性低氧模型尿液蛋白质组的变化

本研究旨在探究急性低氧对大鼠尿液蛋白质组造成的影响。在该项研究中,大鼠被放置于模拟海拔5 000 m高原环境的低氧舱内24 h。在低氧后0、12、24 h收集尿液样本,并使用液相色谱-串联质谱技术（LC-MS/MS）对尿蛋白进行分析。与低氧0 h相比,低氧12 h组共鉴定到144个差异蛋白,低氧24 h组共鉴定到129个差异蛋白。功能分析显示,差异蛋白参与了一系列与低氧应激有关的生物学通路,如抗氧化应激、糖酵解、补体和凝血级联反应等。研究结果表明,尿液蛋白质组可以反映急性低氧刺激后的显著变化。这些发现可能提供了一种判断机体缺氧状态的方法,有助于辅助检测缺氧状态。     

低氧对雄性高原鼠兔性腺的影响

在人工模拟低氧环境下（低压舱模拟５０００ｍ和７０００ｍ海拔高度）,低氧暴露２４ｈ和７ｄ,观察低氧对受试动物性腺的影响。结果表明,急性低氧２４ｈ,高原鼠兔血浆雌二醇（Ｅ２）明显升高;低氧暴露７ｄ,高原鼠兔血浆Ｅ２仍维持一较高水平;５０００ｍ低氧暴露７ｄ,其睾丸指数无明显变化,７０００ｍ时却有所降低。同等条件下,大鼠睾丸指数明显增高;５０００ｍ和７０００ｍ低氧暴露７ｄ对高原鼠兔睾丸组织形态无明显影响,然而,大鼠曲细精管间隙增大,且曲细精管内各级细胞排列紊乱。低氧环境下,高原鼠兔雄体血浆Ｅ２增高,可能是其低氧适应的特征之一     

Associations of high-altitude polycythemia with polymorphisms in <Emphasis Type="Italic">PIK3CD</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">COL4A3</Emphasis> in Tibetan populations

Background

High-altitude polycythemia (HAPC) is a chronic high-altitude disease that can lead to an increase in the production of red blood cells in the people who live in the plateau, a hypoxia environment, for a long time. The most frequent symptoms of HAPC include headache, dizziness, breathlessness, sleep disorders, and dilation of veins. Although chronic hypoxia is the main cause of HAPC, the fundamental pathophysiologic process and related molecular mechanisms responsible for its development remain largely unclear yet.

Aim/methods

This study aimed to explore the related hereditary factors of HAPC in the Chinese Han and Tibetan populations. A total of 140 patients (70 Han and 70 Tibetan) with HAPC and 60 healthy control subjects (30 Han and 30 Tibetan) were recruited for a case-control association study. To explore the genetic basis of HAPC, we investigated the association between HAPC and both phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphonate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit delta gene (PIK3CD) and collagen type IV α3 chain gene (COL4A3) in Chinese Han and Tibetan populations.

Results/conclusion

Using the unconditional logistic regression analysis and the false discovery rate (FDR) calculation, we found that eight SNPs in PIK3CD and one SNP in COL4A3 were associated with HAPC in the Tibetan population. However, in the Han population, we did not find any significant association. Our study suggested that polymorphisms in the PIK3CD and COL4A3 were correlated with susceptibility to HAPC in the Tibetan population.

     

Mitochondrial DNA 10609T Promotes Hypoxia-Induced Increase of Intracellular ROS and Is a Risk Factor of High Altitude Polycythemia

Hypobaric hypoxia is the primary cause of high altitude polycythemia (HAPC). Mitochondria are critical organelles that consume high levels of oxygen and generate ATP. We hypothesize that the mitochondrion may be at the center of HAPC, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) SNPs may be involved in its development. First, we conducted a case-control study to investigate the association of mtDNA variants with HAPC in Han Chinese migrating to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Pearson’s chi-square tests revealed that mtDNA 8414T (MU) frequency (19.5%) in the HAPC group was significantly higher than that of the control (13.0%, P = 0.04, OR = 1.615, 95%CI: 1.020–2.555). The multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for environmental factors, revealed that mtDNA 10609T (WT) was significantly associated with an increased risk of HAPC (P<0.01, OR = 2.558, 95%CI: 1.250–5.236). Second, to verify the association, in vitro experiments of transmitochondrial cybrids was performed and revealed that the mtDNA 10609 variant promoted hypoxia-induced increase of intracellular ROS, but the mtDNA 8414 variant did not. Our findings provide evidence that, in Han Chinese, mtDNA 10609T promotes hypoxia-induced increase of intracellular ROS and is a HAPC risk factor.     

帕米尔高原慢性高山病患病调查分析

目的：调查帕米尔高原地区慢性高山病（CMS）患病情况,分析其临床特征及其影响因素。方法：采用青海CMS记分系统,对帕米尔高原地区的824名居民进行CMS症状调查,记录人口学特征、血压（BP）、血氧饱和度（SaO₂）、心率和CMS特异症状,抽取静脉血检测血红蛋白（Hb）值。结果：帕米尔高原地区CMS总体患病率为22.08%,其中轻度为21.84%,中度为0.24%,未见重度CMS患者。性别、民族、年龄、居住海拔高度、移居时间、职业、习服方式等是CMS患病的影响因素（P<0.05,P<0.01）,分别比较男性和女性的CMS患病率与高原红细胞增多症患病率,差异有统计学意义（χ²=90.59和44.13,P<0.01）。多元线性回归分析显示：年龄、体质指数（BMI）、SaO₂和收缩压（SBP）与CMS患病率密切相关（P<0.01）。结论：帕米尔高原地区慢性高原病患病率较高,而高原红细胞增多症并不多见,CMS患病类型以高原衰退为主。合理安排工作和运动,避免过度疲劳;合理吸氧,提高血氧饱和度;积极治疗,控制血压;安排平原休假或疗养等措施有助于改善慢性高原病症状,减少患病率。     

Atpif1基因对K562细胞血红蛋白合成的影响*

目的:探讨线粒体三磷酸腺苷酶抑制因子-1(Atpif1)对血红蛋白合成的影响。方法:首先,将K562细胞分为低氧实验组、常氧对照组,低氧实验组采用O₂浓度为2%,分别培养24 h,48 h,72 h后收集两组细胞,通过细胞增殖-毒性检测试剂盒(CCK8)法检测细胞的活性,流式细胞仪检测低氧对细胞凋亡的影响,通过氯化血红素诱导K562细胞,检测低氧对血红蛋白合成的影响,qRT-PCR检测Atpif1,核因子(NF-κB),delta-氨基酮戊酸合成酶2(Alas2)基因的转录表达。然后,将K562细胞置于低氧培养箱培养并分为空白组,阴性对照组和si-Atpif1三组。转染siRNA,沉默Atpif1基因,观察血红蛋白合成和NF-κB、Alas2基因mRNA水平变化。结果:与常氧对照组相比,低氧实验组K562细胞活性降低、凋亡增加,血红蛋白含量增加(P＜0.05)。Atpif1、Alas2、NF-κB的mRNA表达水平上调(P＜0.05)。与空白对照组和阴性对照组相比,si-Atpif1组血红蛋白含量均有减少(P＜0.05),同时NF-κB、Alas2的mRNA水平也出现下调(P＜0.05)。结论:Atpif1基因参与调控血红蛋白合成,探究其在高原红细胞增多症(HAPC)发生中的作用,可以为防治HAPC提供新的思路和治疗靶点。     

高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔红细胞低氧适应特征

为探讨高原鼢鼠对低氧高二氧化碳洞道生境及高原鼠兔对高海拔低氧生境的适应机制,用Sysmex SF-3000血细胞分析仪及聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳对两种高原动物的血常规及血红蛋白类型进行分析,后者采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法。结果表明,高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔的红细胞数(RBC)、红细胞压积(HCT)及平均红细胞容积(MCV)组间无显著差异(P>0.05),但高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔的红细胞数显著高于SD大鼠,红细胞压积及平均红细胞容积均显著低于SD大鼠(P<0.05);高原鼢鼠的血红蛋白浓度(HBC)与SD大鼠无显著差异(P>0.05),但显著高于高原鼠兔的HBC(P<0.05)。高原鼢鼠血红蛋白主要有2种类型,高原鼠兔血红蛋白主要有3种类型,而SD大鼠血红蛋白主要有5种类型。从血红蛋白电泳迁移来看,2种高原动物血红蛋白类型有明显的趋同特征并与SD大鼠具有明显的差异。上述结果提示,长期适应高海拔低氧环境的高原动物的红细胞和血红蛋白表现出趋同进化,同时因生境和习性的差异又表现出各自的特异性。     

An Insight into the Changes in Human Plasma Proteome on Adaptation to Hypobaric Hypoxia

Adaptation to hypobaric hypoxia is required by animals and human in several physiological and pathological situations. Hypobaric hypoxia is a pathophysiological condition triggering redox status disturbances of cell organization leading, via oxidative stress, to proteins, lipids, and DNA damage. Identifying the molecular variables playing key roles in this process would be of paramount importance to shed light on the mechanisms known to counteract the negative effects of oxygen lack. To obtain a molecular signature, changes in the plasma proteome were studied by using proteomic approach. To enrich the low-abundance proteins in human plasma, two highly abundant proteins, albumin and IgG, were first removed. By comparing the plasma proteins of high altitude natives with those of a normal control group, several proteins with a significant alteration were found. The up-regulated proteins were identified as vitamin D-binding protein, hemopexin, alpha-1–antitrypsin, haptoglobin β-chain, apolipoprotein A1, transthyretin and hemoglobin beta chain. The down-regulated proteins were transferrin, complement C3, serum amyloid, complement component 4A and plasma retinol binding protein. Among these proteins, the alterations of transthyretin and transferrin were further confirmed by ELISA and Western blotting analysis. Since all the up- and down- regulated proteins identified above are well-known inflammation inhibitors and play a positive anti-inflammatory role, these results show that there is some adaptive mechanism that sustains the inflammation balance in high altitude natives exposed to hypobaric hypoxia.     

Oxygen-transport function and carbohydrate metabolism in rat erythrocytes during hypoxic hypoxia and treatment with insulin

Hemoglobin affinity to oxygen, enzyme activity and metabolite concentration of carbohydrate metabolism were determined in erythrocytes of rats which were administered insulin solution. A valid decrease of the hemoglobin value P50 (pressure of hemoglobin half-saturation with oxygen), as well as a decrease of the enzyme activity of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate shunt and increase of the activity of regulatory glycolysis enzymes--hexokinase and pyruvate kinase in erythrocytes with multiple introduction of hormones to animals have been established. Such changes in rat erythrocytes were registered with the simultaneous effect of insulin and hypoxic hypoxia evoked by the "lift" of rats in the altitude chamber to the conditional altitude of 9000 m. It is found out that preliminary injection of insulin considerably increases survivability of rats under hypoxic hypoxia at great altitudes.     

Predicted structural change in erythropoietin of plateau zokors--adaptation to high altitude

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone, expressed mainly in fetus liver and adult kidneys. EPO plays an important role in enhancing red blood cell formation in bone marrow under hypoxia. Plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi), an subterranean burrowing endemic rodent inhabiting areas of 2 800-4 200 m above sea level on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is a typical high hypoxia tolerant mammal with high ratio of oxygen utilization in adaptation to the harsh plateau environment. To investigate the possible mechanisms of adaptation of plateau zokor EPO to high altitude, the complete cDNA and amino acid sequences of plateau zokor EPO have been described. Phylogenetic tree of Epo showed the convergence of the Spalax and Myospalax, indicating that, the convergent evolution was driven by similar hypoxic ecological niches. Our results showed that some common sites under positive selection in zokor (116M and 144A) and Spalax (102R, 116M, 144A and 152P) are the important sites for Epo biological activity. This study thus reports a gene level observation which may be involved in adaptation to underground life at high altitude.     

Serum glucose level in severe acute exogenous normobaric hypoxia in humans at rest

The study of the effect of acute normobaric hypoxia, which was simulated by inhalation of the oxygen-nitrogen mixture containing 8% of oxygen, which corresponds to its partial pressure at an altitude of 7000 m above sea level, was conducted in a group of apparently healthy men (aged 19–23 years, n = 10). The biochemical analysis during the test included determining the glucose, pyruvate, and lactate levels in venous blood; the hemoglobin content, pH, hematocrit, partial oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures, and hemoglobin saturation with oxygen. It was shown that, at the fifth minute of hypoxia, the serum glucose level decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the background. However, on the whole, the maximal glucose level decrease was 0.76 mM, and the lowest individual parameter values did not decrease below 4.0 mM. The serum glucose level was restored to the background values at the tenth minute of testing. It was suggested that the syncopal form of altitude hypoxia in humans is unlikely to be linked to the development of hypoglycemia.     

The effect of hypoxic hypoxia on the physicochemical and functional properties of hemoglobin in rats]

The effect of intermittent altitude chamber hypoxia is established to cause an increase in solvability of laboratory rat hemoglobin. Results of immunochemical and fluorescent analysis of the samples of hemoglobin and its component are presented and discussed. They prove that changes in solvability of hemoglobin are determined by the conformational reconstructions of the respiration protein as a result of formation of the complexes with internally erythrocytic metabolites.     

高原鼢鼠神经型一氧化氮合酶基因编码区序列克隆与分析

高原鼢鼠是青藏高原特有的地下鼠,受到高原低氧以及洞穴低氧的双重低氧环境压力。经RNA 提取、RT-PCR、亚克隆与测序,本研究获得高原鼢鼠神经型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)的编码区序列,并对其分子特征进行了分析。结果显示:高原鼢鼠nNOS 基因编码区(CDS)全长4 290 bp,编码1 429 个氨基酸残基;CDS 与大鼠、小鼠、兔、狗、人的同源性分别为90% 、89% 、87% 、87% 、89% ;结构域上,高原鼢鼠nNOS 具有PDZ蛋白结构域、氧化域、还原域及钙调素结合位点等nNOSs 所具有的典型结构域;基于nNOS 的最大似然树和贝叶斯树均支持高原鼢鼠与大鼠、小鼠具有最近的亲缘关系,与形态或其它分子标记构建的进化关系相符;分子进化分析检测到高原鼢鼠nNOS 中存在3 个正选择位点---332 T、1200 G 和1334 P,但均未达到统计显著水平。本研究为揭示高原鼢鼠nNOS 的表达特征及其在低氧适应中的作用与调控机制研究奠定了初步基础。     

Time-course of the polycythemic response in normoxic and hypoxic mice with high blood oxygen affinity induced by cyanate administration

The Hb-O₂ affinity and the erythropoietic response as a function of time were studied in mice treated with sodium cyanate for up to 2 months. Cyanate increased the Hb-O₂ affinity in normoxic mice more than in chronically hypoxic mice. The hemoglobin concentration rose as a function of time both in normoxic and hypoxic conditions but reached higher levels in hypoxia. After 42 days of study (21 days of hypoxia) hemoglobin reached maximum levels and thereafter showed a plateau in both cyanate and control animals. It is concluded that a chronic left-shifted oxygen dissociation curve does not avoid the development of hypoxic polycythemia in mice. Moreover, prolonged cyanate administration potentiates the crythropoietic response to chronic hypoxia. Since polycythemia is an index of tissue hypoxia, the results show that the high hemoglobin affinity did not prevent tissue hypoxia in low PO₂ conditions. Results showing beneficial effects of high hemoglobin oxygen affinity induced by cyanate based on acute hypoxic expositions should be cautiously interpreted with regard to their adaptive value in animals chronically exposed to natural or simulated hypoxia.Abbreviations Hb hemoglobin - NaOCN sodium cyanate - ODC oxygen dissociation curve - P ₅₀ PO₂ at which hemoglobin is half saturated with O₂     

低氧暴露下高原鼠兔肺组织间隙连接蛋白40表达分析

低氧性肺血管收缩反应钝化是高原鼠兔适应低氧环境的重要策略,但参与该生理代偿反应的功能基因尚不明确。间隙连接蛋白40 (Connexin40, Cx40) 在哺乳动物肺血管内皮表达。本研究对生活在海拔3 200 m的高原鼠兔进行28 d模拟海拔5 000 m低氧处理,以Sprague Dawley (SD) 大鼠为对照,采用免疫组化法分析模拟低氧处理后高原鼠兔和SD大鼠肺组织形态结构,qPCR和蛋白印记法检测Cx40基因和蛋白表达量变化,探究Cx40在高原鼠兔低氧性肺血管收缩反应钝化中的潜在作用。结果显示,低氧处理后,高原鼠兔肺泡呈空泡囊状,Cx40蛋白在支气管和肺血管中均表达,Cx40 基因mRNA水平随着低氧暴露而升高,但其蛋白质水平呈下降趋势,肺支气管Cx40蛋白无明显变化。SD大鼠肺血管和肺支气管表达的Cx40蛋白均无明显变化。暗示生活在高海拔低氧环境中的高原鼠兔,Cx40蛋白下调可抑制血管收缩信号,减弱低氧性肺血管收缩反应,使低氧性肺血管收缩反应钝化,以适应高原缺氧环境。研究结果可为高原土著动物适应高寒缺氧环境提供基础理论数据。     

Changes in the concentration of metalloproteins in the blood plasma in hypoxia and hyperbaric oxygenation

Dynamics of hemoglobin, ceruloplasmin concentration, the changes of chemiluminescence in blood plasma and kinetics of rat erythrocyte heat denaturation during consequent exposition of high altitude hypoxia and hyperbaric oxygenation have been studied. Severe hypoxia causes the decrease of extraerythrocyte hemoglobin and oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin. Reoxygenation results in significant increase of blood plasma chemiluminescence with simultaneous increase of extraerythrocyte hemoglobin level and with modification of surface structure of the erythrocyte membranes. Possible pathways of activation of oxygen-dependent of free-radical processes during reoxygenation are discussed.     

Acclimatory responses of the Daphnia pulex proteome to environmental changes. I. Chronic exposure to hypoxia affects the oxygen transport system and carbohydrate metabolism

Background  

Freshwater planktonic crustaceans of the genus Daphnia show a remarkable plasticity to cope with environmental changes in oxygen concentration and temperature. One of the key proteins of adaptive gene control in Daphnia pulex under hypoxia is hemoglobin (Hb), which increases in hemolymph concentration by an order of magnitude and shows an enhanced oxygen affinity due to changes in subunit composition. To explore the full spectrum of adaptive protein expression in response to low-oxygen conditions, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used to analyze the proteome composition of animals acclimated to normoxia (oxygen partial pressure [Po₂]: 20 kPa) and hypoxia (Po₂: 3 kPa), respectively.