title: [High-altitude hypoxia induces disorders of the brain-endocrine-immune network through activation of corticotropin-releasing factor and its type-1 receptors].
abstract: High-altitude hypoxia can induce physiological dysfunction and mountain sickness, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and CRF type-i receptors (CRFR1) are members of the CRF family and the essential controllers of the physiological activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and modulators of endocrine and behavioral activity in response to various stressors. We have previously found that high-altitude hypoxia induces disorders of the brain-endocrine-immune network through activation of CRF and CRFR1 in the brain and periphery that include activation of the HPA axis in a time- and dose-dependent manner, impaired or improved learning and memory, and anxiety-like behavioral change. Meanwhile, hypoxia induces dysfunctions of the hypothalamo-pituitary-endocrine and immune systems, including suppression of growth and development, as well as inhibition of reproductive, metabolic and immune functions. In contrast, the small mammals that live on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau alpine meadow display low responsiveness to extreme high-altitude-hypoxia challenge, suggesting well-acclimatized genes and a physiological strategy that developed during evolution through interactions between the genes and environment. All the findings provide evidence for understanding the neuroendocrine mechanisms of hypoxia-induced physiological dysfunction. This review extends these findings.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurobiology and Physiology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Qun
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fan-Ping
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ji-Zeng
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D018609:Tibet
chemical_list: D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone