Authors: Jacqueline Pichler Hefti Alexander Leichtle Monika Stutz Urs Hefti Thomas Geiser Andreas R Huber Tobias M Merz
Publish Date: 2016/01/28
Volume: 116, Issue: 4, Pages: 739-748
Abstract
Hypoxia and oxidative stress affect endothelial function Endothelial microparticles MP are established measures of endothelial dysfunction and influence vascular reactivity To evaluate the effects of hypoxia and antioxidant supplementation on endothelial MP profiles a doubleblind placebocontrolled trial during a high altitude expedition was performed29 participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group n = 14 receiving vitamin E C A and Nacetylcysteine daily and a control group n = 15 receiving placebo Blood samples were obtained at 490 m baseline 3530 4590 and 6210 m A sensitive tandem mass spectrometry method was used to measure 8isoprostaglandin F2α and hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids as markers of oxidative stress Assessment of MP profiles including endothelial activation markers CD62+MP and CD144+MP and cell apoptosis markers phosphatidylserine+MP and CD31+MP was performed using a standardized flow cytometrybased protocol15 subjects reached all altitudes and were included in the final analysis Oxidative stress increased significantly at altitude No statistically significant changes were observed comparing baseline to altitude measurements of phosphatidylserine expressing MP p = 01718 and CD31+MP p = 01305 Compared to baseline measurements a significant increase in CD62+MP p = 00079 and of CD144+MP was detected p = 00315 at high altitudes No significant difference in any MP level or oxidative stress markers were found between the treatment and the control groupHypobaric hypoxia is associated with increased oxidative stress and induces a significant increase in CD62+ and CD144+MP whereas phosphatidylserine+MP and CD31+MP remain unchanged This indicates that endothelial activation rather than an apoptosis is the primary factor of hypoxia induced endothelial dysfunction
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