title: High-altitude trekking in the Himalayas increases the activity of circulating endothelial cells.
abstract: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are believed to contribute to vascular homeostasis; unfortunately, the response of EPCs in physiological conditions remains largely unknown. Herein we report our observations of a 44-year-old healthy subject after a trek in the Himalayas that support high-altitude hypoxia and exercise oxygen demands are strong stimuli for clonogenic endothelial cell activation and activity, as shown by the increase in the number of mature EPCs and in the endothelial colony-forming unit capacity. Both of these effects were completely reverted at sea level, 45 days after the subject's trek.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Cardiovascolare, Centro di Fisiologia Clinica e Ipertensione, University of Milan, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Milan, Italy. michele.ciulla@unimi.it
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ciulla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giorgetti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cortiana
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Silvestris
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Annoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Asmundis
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montelatici
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paliotti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magrini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rebulla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortelezzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D014195:Travel