Acute in vitro hypoxia and high-altitude (4,559 m) exposure decreases leukocyte oxygen consumption.
Hypoxia impairs metabolic functions by decreasing activity and expression of ATP-consuming processes. To separate hypoxia from systemic effects, we tested whether hypoxia at high altitude affects basal and PMA-stimulated leukocyte metabolism and how this compares to acute (15 min) and 24 h of in vitro hypoxia. Leukocytes were prepared at low altitude and ∼24 h after arrival at 4559 m. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption (JO₂) was measured by respirometry, oxygen radicals by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, both at a Po₂ = 100 mmHg (JO₂,₁₀₀) and 20 mmHg (JO₂,₂₀). Acute hypoxia of leukocytes decreased JO₂ at low altitude. Exposure to high altitude decreased JO₂,₁₀₀, whereas JO₂,₂₀ was not affected. Acute hypoxia of low-altitude samples decreased the activity of complexes I, II, and III. At high altitude, activity of complexes I and III were decreased when measured in normoxia. Stimulation of leukocytes with PMA increased JO₂,₁₀₀ at low (twofold) and high altitude (five-fold). At both locations, PMA-stimulated JO₂ was decreased by acute hypoxia. Basal and PMA-stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were unchanged at high altitude. Separate in vitro experiments performed at low altitude show that ∼75% of PMA-induced increase in JO₂ was due to increased extra-mitochondrial JO₂ (JO₂(,res); in the presence of rotenone and antimycin A). JO₂(,res) was doubled by PMA. Acute hypoxia decreased basal JO₂(,res) by ∼70% and PMA-stimulated JO₂(,res) by about 50% in cells cultured in normoxia and hypoxia (1.5% O₂; 24 h). Conversely, 24 h in vitro hypoxia decreased mitochondrial JO₂,₁₀₀ and JO₂,₂₀, extra-mitochondrial, basal, and PMA-stimulated JO₂ were not affected. These results show that 24 h of high altitude but not 24 h in vitro hypoxia decreased basal leukocyte metabolism, whereas PMA-induced JO₂ and ROS formation were not affected, indicating that prolonged high-altitude hypoxia impairs mitochondrial metabolism but does not impair respiratory burst. In contrast, acute hypoxia impairs respiratory burst at either altitude.
Medical Clinic VII, Univ. Hospital Heidelberg, Germany.
Vitalie
V
Faoro
Bruno
B
Fink
Sarah
S
Taudorf
Christoph
C
Dehnert
Marc M
MM
Berger
Erik R
ER
Swenson
Damian M
DM
Bailey
Peter
P
Bärtsch
Heimo
H
Mairbäurl
D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D010100:Oxygen