Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes: A Model for Monitoring Physiological Adaptation to High Altitude

Abstract Mariggio, Maria A., Stefano Falone, Caterina Morabito, Simone Guarnieri, Alessandro Mirabilio, Raffaele Pilla, Tonino Bucciarelli, Vittore Verratti, and Fernanda Amicarelli. Peripheral blood lymphocytes: a model for monitoring physiological adaptation to high altitude. High Alt. Med. Biol. 10:333–342, 2010.—Depending on the absolute altitude and the duration of exposure, a high altitude environment induces various cellular effects that are strictly related to changes in oxidative balance. In this study, we used in vitro isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes as biosensors to test the effect of hypobaric hypoxia on seven climbers by measuring the functional activity of these cells. Our data revealed that a 21-day exposure to high altitude (5000 m) (1) increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration, (2) caused a significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and (3) despite possible transient increases in intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species, did not significantly change the antiox...