Abstract
Exposure to high-altitude hypoxia causes physiological and metabolic adaptive changes by disturbing homeostasis. Hypoxia-related changes in skeletal muscle affect the closely interconnected energy and regeneration processes. The balance between protein synthesis and degradation in the skeletal muscle is regulated by several molecules such as myostatin, cytokines, vitamin D, and irisin. This study investigates changes in irisin and myostatin levels in male climbers after a 2-week high-altitude expedition, and their association with 25(OH)D and indices of inflammatory processes. The study was performed in 8 men aged between 23 and 31 years, who participated in a 2-week climbing expedition in the Alps. The measurements of body composition and serum concentrations of irisin, myostatin, 25(OH)D, interleukin-6, myoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, osteoprotegerin, and high-sensitivity soluble receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (sRANKL) were performed before and after expedition. A 2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia caused significant decrease in body mass, body mass index (BMI), free fat mass and irisin, 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels. On the other hand, significant increase in the levels of myoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and osteoprotegerin were noted. The observed correlations of irisin with 25(OH)D levels, as well as myostatin levels with inflammatory markers and the OPG/RANKL ratio indicate that these myokines may be involved in the energy-related processes and skeletal muscle regeneration in response to 2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia.
Highlights
Exposure to high-altitude hypoxia is a characteristic feature of mountain climbing
The observed correlations of irisin with 25(OH)D levels, as well as myostatin levels with inflammatory markers and the OPG/ RANKL ratio indicate that these myokines may be involved in the energy-related processes and skeletal muscle regeneration in response to 2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia
2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia caused a significant increase in the levels of myoglobin, High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), hsIL-6 (Fig 1), and OPG (Fig 2A) and a significant decrease in the 25(OH)D and irisin levels (Fig 3A and 3B)
Summary
Exposure to high-altitude hypoxia is a characteristic feature of mountain climbing. Numerous studies indicate that physical exercise at high altitudes causes physiological and metabolic adaptive changes by disturbing homeostasis [1,2]. Hypoxia-related changes in skeletal muscle affect the closely interconnected energy and regeneration processes [3,4,5]. Chronic hypoxia significantly potentiates the exercise-induced generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and pro-inflammatory factors (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6), which may in turn impair mitochondrial function and damage myocytes [6,7].
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