Adaptation of ghrelin and the GH/IGF axis to high altitude

Humans cannot live at very high altitude for reasons, which are not completely understood. Since these reasons are not restricted to cardiorespiratory changes alone, changes in the endocrine system might also be involved. Therefore, hormonal changes during prolonged hypobaric hypoxia were comprehensively assessed to determine effects of altitude and hypoxia on stress, thyroid and gonadal hypothalamus–pituitary hormone axes. Twenty-one male and 19 female participants were examined repetitively during a high-altitude expedition. Cortisol, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), fT4 and fT3 and in males follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and total testosterone were analysed as well as parameters of hypoxemia, such as SaO2 and paO2 at 550 m (baseline) (n = 40), during ascent at 4844 m (n = 38), 6022 m (n = 31) and 7050 m (n = 13), at 4844 m (n = 29) after acclimatization and after the expedition (n = 38). Correlation analysis of hormone concentrations with oxygen parameters and with altitude revealed statistical association in most cases only with altitude. Adrenal, thyroid and gonadal axes were affected by increasing altitude. Adrenal axis and prolactin were first supressed at 4844 m and then activated with increasing altitude; thyroid and gonadal axes were directly activated or suppressed respectively with increasing altitude. Acclimatisation at 4844 m led to normalization of adrenal and gonadal but not of thyroid axes. In conclusion, acclimatization partly leads to a normalization of the adrenal, thyroid and gonadal axes at around 5000 m. However, at higher altitude, endocrine dysregulation is pronounced and might contribute to the physical degradation found at high altitude.

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“…Several studies have already investigated various hormone concentrations at high altitude ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adrenal, thyroid and gonadal axes are affected at high altitude

Wolff

Nakas

Tobler

et al. 2018

Endocrine Connections

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“…It is reported plasma levels of CCL18 are higher in HA subjects than in LA participant, 53 which is similar to our results. Moreover, Riedl et al 54 demonstrated that IGFBP2 levels increased during ascent to high altitude. However, in our validation set, IGFBP2 showed no obvious difference in the two cohorts.…”

Section: Hypoxia-inducible Factor 1α Induced Alterations Of Protein E...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Alterations of Human Plasma Proteome Profile on Adaptation to High-Altitude Hypobaric Hypoxia

Zhang

et al. 2019

J. Proteome Res.

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For individuals migrating to or residing permanently in high-altitude regions, environmental hypobaric hypoxia is a primary challenge that induces several physiological or pathological responses. It is well documented that human beings adapt to hypobaric hypoxia via some protective mechanisms, such as erythropoiesis and overproduction of hemoglobin; however, little is known on the alterations of plasma proteome profiles in accommodation to highaltitude hypobaric hypoxia. In the present study, we investigated differential plasma proteomes of high altitude natives and lowland normal controls by a TMT-based proteomic approach. A total of 818 proteins were identified, of which 137 were differentially altered. Bioinformatics (including GO, KEGG, protein−protein interactions, etc.) analysis showed that the differentially altered proteins were basically involved in complement and coagulation cascades, antioxidative stress, and glycolysis. Validation results demonstrated that CCL18, C9, PF4, MPO, and S100A9 were notably up-regulated, and HRG and F11 were down-regulated in high altitude natives, which were consistent with TMT-based proteomic results. Our findings highlight the contributions of complement and coagulation cascades, antioxidative stress, and glycolysis in acclimatization to hypobaric hypoxia and provide a foundation for developing potential diagnostic or/and therapeutic biomarkers for high altitude hypobaric hypoxia-induced diseases.

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“…Untersuchungen nach zusätzlichen Stressoren wie sportlichen Aktivitäten auf simulierten 4000 und 5500 Höhenmetern [24], einem Aufstieg auf 5050 m [25] oder der Besteigung des Mount Everest [3] führten zu einem Anstieg der Somatotropinkonzentration.…”

Section: Somatotropinkonzentrationunclassified

Das Endokrinium auf bis zu 7000 Höhenmetern

Wolff

Hefti

2016

Gynäkologische Endokrinologie

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Adaptation of ghrelin and the GH/IGF axis to high altitude

Cited by 10 publications

References 37 publications

Adrenal, thyroid and gonadal axes are affected at high altitude

Adrenal, thyroid and gonadal axes are affected at high altitude

Alterations of Human Plasma Proteome Profile on Adaptation to High-Altitude Hypobaric Hypoxia

Das Endokrinium auf bis zu 7000 Höhenmetern

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