Gene Expression Changes Associated with Acute Mountain Sickness After Rapid Altitude Exposure at The South Pole

• Published in: The FASEB Journal
• Main Authors: Byrd, M. T., Wheatley‐Guy, Courtney M., Grill, Diane E., Shea, Meredith G., Herman, Nicole M., Johnson, Bruce D.
• Other Authors: National Science Foundation, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2022
• Subjects: South Pole; McMurdo Station; Amundsen-Scott; Amundsen Scott South Pole Station; Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station; Antarc*; Antarctica; South pole
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r4043

Many individuals travel to high altitude each year. Acclimatization to altitude occurs over the course of several days as the body adequately adapts to function in an environment with reduced partial pressure of oxygen. However, with a faster accent to attitude, comes an increased potential for maladaptations to occur, leading to the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Each year scientists and support workers are transported by plane from McMurdo Station in Antarctica (sea level) to the Amundsen‐Scott South Pole Station (2835m). This uniform and rapid deployment to altitude provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on gene expression, which may help to illustrate the body’s ability to acclimatize to these environmental conditions. Purpose To detect pathway specific gene expression changes associated with the development of AMS and help identify potential targets that may aid in the prediction of risk in the development of AMS symptoms due to rapid exposure to high altitude. Methods Venous blood samples were collected from 53 (height 176.65±8.91cm, weight: 80.49±14.36kg) healthy subjects (38 (27 males; 11 females) that did not develop AMS and 15 (10 males; 5 females) that did develop AMS, as defined by the Lake Louis symptom questionnaire, collected at 2 different time points, with the first being at sea level and the second being after 48hr of altitude exposure). Microarray analysis was performed on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the collected samples, and a logistic regression was performed to determine probe set association with AMS. Results There was a total of 178 significant (p<0.05) probe sets, with 156 of the probe sets being associated with AMS and 22 of the probe sets being associated with no AMS. The probe sets were entered into the Reactome Pathway Database (reactome.org). Pathways identified in association with AMS involved immune system pathways (interleukin signaling) and cellular responses to stimuli pathways (oxidative stress induced ...