QUANTIFYING ALTITUDE RELATED OXIDATIVE STRESS BY CARBONYL PROTEINS

Abstract

Introduction: In quantifying altitude related oxidative stress on a molecular level carbonylated proteins show great promise. They have been used as a biological marker to determine oxidative stress in newborns so far. In contrast to other markers this substance group is very stable and early detectable. Therefore, their use in a high altitude environment should be with good prospects. Objective: To test the hypothesis that acute exposure to hypobaric hypoxia induces measurable oxidative stress that might be related to the severity of AMS. Methods: Twelve subjects spent a night in a hypobaric chamber at a simulated altitude of 4000 m. One hour before altitude exposure and two hours after arrival at 4000 m a blood sample was taken and protein carbonylation was analyzed by special ELISA. Results were compared with severity of acute mountain sickness (AMS) after spending 11 hours at 4000 m quantified by the Lake Louise Score. Results: The fast ascent to 4000 m generates a measurable oxidative stress to the organism with a wide range in individual susceptibility. This appears at altitude expressed by a significant change of carbonyl proteins (P = 0.01) as well as for the severity of AMS. Three of the subjects having no or least AMS showed a decrease in carbonyl proteins. All other subjects had an increase in carbonyl proteins. The participant with the highest increase in carbonyl proteins was the most severely ill person. Regression analysis showed a linear regression; r 2 = 0.43.