Abstract
Background: Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a common disabling condition in individuals experiencing high altitudes, which may progress to life-threatening high altitude cerebral edema. Today, no established biomarkers are available for prediction the susceptibility of AMS. MicroRNAs emerge as promising sensitive and specific biomarkers for a variety of diseases. Thus, we sought to identify circulating microRNAs suitable for prediction the susceptible of AMS before exposure to high altitude.Methods: We enrolled 109 healthy man adults and collected blood samples before their exposure to high altitude. Then we took them to an elevation of 3648 m for 5 days. Circulating microRNAs expression was measured by microarray and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). AMS was defined as Lake Louise score ≥3 and headache using Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness Scoring System.Results: A total of 31 microRNAs were differentially expressed between AMS and Non-AMS groups, 15 up-regulated and 16 down-regulated. Up-regulation of miR-369-3p, miR-449b-3p, miR-136-3p, and miR-4791 in patients with AMS compared with Non-AMS individuals were quantitatively confirmed using qRT-PCR (all, P < 0.001). With multiple logistic regression analysis, a unique signature encompassing miR-369-3p, miR-449b-3p, and miR-136-3p discriminate AMS from Non-AMS (area under the curve 0.986, 95%CI 0.970–1.000, P < 0.001, LR+: 14.21, LR–: 0.08). This signature yielded a 92.68% sensitivity and a 93.48% specificity for AMS vs. Non-AMS.Conclusion: The study here, for the first time, describes a signature of three circulating microRNAs as a robust biomarker to predict the susceptibility of AMS before exposure to high altitude.
Highlights
There are three main highland regions of the world that support large populations, including the Tibetan plateau and Himalayan valleys, the Andes of South America, and the Ethiopian highlands
Headache is the cardinal symptom of Acute mountain sickness (AMS) and is essential to diagnose AMS according to Lake Louise Scoring System (LLS; Roach et al, 1993)
Assessed by LLS, 13 individuals were diagnosed as AMS and 9 as Non-AMS in microarray assay, while 41 volunteers were designated as AMS and 46 as Non-AMS in quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) test
Summary
There are three main highland regions of the world that support large populations, including the Tibetan plateau and Himalayan valleys, the Andes of South America, and the Ethiopian highlands. A Signature for Prediction of Acute Mountain Sickness problem of persons who acutely ascended to high altitude with an elevation more than 2500 m (Hackett et al, 1976; MacInnis et al, 2013; Waeber et al, 2015). It may occur as early as 6– 24 h following ascent (Wright et al, 2008). The primary clinical manifestation of AMS is a combination of several symptoms, such as headache, anorexia, dizziness, malaise, nausea, and sleep disturbance (Bärtsch and Swenson, 2013). We sought to identify circulating microRNAs suitable for prediction the susceptible of AMS before exposure to high altitude
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
