Alterations of Human Plasma Proteome Profile on Adaptation to High-Altitude Hypobaric Hypoxia

For individuals migrating to or residing permanently in high-altitude regions, environmental hypobaric hypoxia is a primary challenge that induces several physiological or pathological responses. It is well documented that human beings adapt to hypobaric hypoxia via some protective mechanisms, such as erythropoiesis and overproduction of hemoglobin; however, little is known on the alterations of plasma proteome profiles in accommodation to high-altitude hypobaric hypoxia. In the present study, we investigated differential plasma proteomes of high altitude natives and lowland normal controls by a TMT-based proteomic approach. A total of 818 proteins were identified, of which 137 were differentially altered. Bioinformatics (including GO, KEGG, protein–protein interactions, etc.) analysis showed that the differentially altered proteins were basically involved in complement and coagulation cascades, antioxidative stress, and glycolysis. Validation results demonstrated that CCL18, C9, PF4, MPO, and S100A9 were...