title: [The acclimatization to extreme environments and its physiological mechanisms].
abstract: Acclimatization is a process of biological adaptation when exposed to environmental factors such as hypoxia, cold and heat for prolonged periods of time, where non-genetical variations play a role in allowing subjects to tolerate hypoxic, cold or hot environments. This review focuses on the characteristics and mechanisms of acclimatization found through major research advances by our institute. First, the mechanisms underlying the acclimatization to extreme environments are complex. In our investigations, the physiological changes of multiple systems including the nervous, circulatory, respiratory, and hemopoietic system were demonstrated when the acclimatization to hypoxia was developed, and the underlying significance of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) was investigated. Second, it is suggested that the development of acclimatization to extreme environments is complicated. Hypoxia and cold coexist at high altitude. Our investigations revealed the characteristics of negative cross-relationship in the acclimatization to hypoxia and cold. And third, it is interesting for us to understand that acclimatization to extreme environments is transferable among individuals, and the characteristics of heat acclimatization-inducing factor (HAlF) were presented. The above findings will provide a theoretical guidance for protective operations and help to establish a solid foundation for future research related to acclimatization.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Tianjin 300050, China. wh9588@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dan-Feng
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Chao-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Zhao-Yun
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jia-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000531:Altitude; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004777:Environment; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit