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09:54
A Model to Simulate Clinically Relevant Hypoxia in Humans
Published on: December 22, 2016
Inflammatory response to acute hypoxia in humans
Nausherwan K Burki1, Sodienye U Tetenta1
1Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030-1321, USA.
Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|June 4, 2013
Summary
Acute hypoxia in humans does not trigger inflammation markers, unlike in animal studies. However, hypoxia does increase hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Animal studies indicate hypoxia induces inflammation and molecular changes at the cellular level.
- The inflammatory effects of acute hypoxia in humans remain largely uncharacterized, despite common assumptions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the human inflammatory response to acute hypoxic exposure.
- To determine if acute hypoxia affects circulating biomarkers of inflammation and epithelial damage in healthy adults.
Main Methods:
- 12 healthy adults were exposed to hypoxic gas mixtures or room air for 30 or 60 minutes.
- Circulating levels of adhesion molecules (AMs), Clara cell secretory protein (CC16), hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured.
- Measurements were taken at baseline and up to 240 minutes post-exposure.
Main Results:
- No significant changes were observed in AMs, CC16, TNF-α, IL-6, or hsCRP levels.
- Significant increases in hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were observed post-hypoxia (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Acute hypoxic exposure (up to 60 minutes) in humans does not induce a measurable systemic inflammatory response or epithelial damage.
- Hypoxia does induce the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in humans.
- The human physiological response to acute hypoxia is more complex than suggested by animal and cellular studies.
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