这一研究结果发表在2014年4月14日的《PLOS ONE》,发现随着持续地暴露于高海拔缺氧条件(6-8周),胰岛素抗性的几个指标会随之增加,这种变化与炎症和氧化应激标记物的血液水平升高有关。数据来自于一项称为Caudwell Xtreme Everest的研究,开始于2007年,由UCL 高度、空间和极端环境医学中心(Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme environment medicine,CASE Medicine)协同开展。
这项研究由南安普敦大学麻醉与危重病医学教授、UCL CASE Medicine 创始人之一Mike Grocott带领,目前他带领南安普敦国家健康研究所(NIHR)呼吸生物医学研究单位的急救护理研究方向。他评论说:“这些结果对胰岛素抗性这个临床问题,给出了有益的启示。肥胖者体内的脂肪组织被认为存在于一种慢性轻度缺氧状态,因为小血管无法给脂肪组织提供足够的氧气。我们的研究非常独特,让我们能够在高海拔健康人体内发现通常只在海平面肥胖者中看到的一些事情。结果表明,降低糖尿病进展的可能干预措施,包括降低体内的氧化应激和炎症的措施。”
UCL外科和介入性科学部门高级讲师、UCL CASE Medicine 主任Daniel Martin博士补充说:“这些令人振奋的结果,让我们对糖尿病中胰岛素抗性的可能机制有了独特的见解,并为我们关注进一步研究这种疾病的新疗法,提供了一些线索。它也表明,利用健康志愿者在高海拔进行研究,对于海平面患者具有一定的价值。我们的高海拔实验模型,研究涉及组织缺氧的各种疾病,是对很难探讨的假设进行验证的一种很好方式。”(生物通:王英)
生物通推荐原文摘要: Effects of Prolonged Exposure to Hypobaric Hypoxia on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Gluco-Insular Regulation: The Not-So-Sweet Price for Good Regulation Abstract Objectives The mechanisms by which low oxygen availability are associated with the development of insulin resistance remain obscure. We thus investigated the relationship between such gluco-insular derangements in response to sustained (hypobaric) hypoxemia, and changes in biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation and counter-regulatory hormone responses.
Methods After baseline testing in London (75 m), 24 subjects ascended from Kathmandu (1,300 m) to Everest Base Camp (EBC;5,300 m) over 13 days. Of these, 14 ascended higher, with 8 reaching the summit (8,848 m). Assessments were conducted at baseline, during ascent to EBC, and 1, 6 and 8 week(s) thereafter. Changes in body weight and indices of gluco-insular control were measured (glucose, insulin, C-Peptide, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]) along with biomarkers of oxidative stress (4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-HNE), inflammation (Interleukin-6 [IL-6]) and counter-regulatory hormones (glucagon, adrenalin, noradrenalin). In addition, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and venous blood lactate concentrations were determined.
Results SpO2 fell significantly from 98.0% at sea level to 82.0% on arrival at 5,300 m. Whilst glucose levels remained stable, insulin and C-Peptide concentrations increased by >200% during the last 2 weeks. Increases in fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and glucagon correlated with increases in markers of oxidative stress (4-HNE) and inflammation (IL-6). Lactate levels progressively increased during ascent and remained significantly elevated until week 8. Subjects lost on average 7.3 kg in body weight.