Intermittent hypobaric hypoxia increases the ability of neutrophils to generate superoxide anion in humans

1. We investigated the effect of intermittent exposure to hypobaric hypoxia on the ability of neutrophils to generate .O-2(-). 2. Seven male volunteers were exposed intermittently to hypobaric hypoxia, equivalent to an altitude of 4500 m, for 7 successive days. Peripheral blood samples were collected before and after the 2 h course of hypobaric hypoxia on days 1 and 7 and neutrophils were subjected to a chemiluminescence assay for .O-2(-) production. 3. On day 1, 2 h exposure to hypobaric hypoxia induced granulocytosis ( P < 0.01), but the ability of neutrophils to generate •O-2(-) was unchanged. 4. On day 7, such granulocytosis was not observed, suggesting acclimatization to hypobaric hypoxia. 5. The ability of neutrophils to generate .O-2(-) was significantly increased on day 7 ( P < 0.01), although there was no definite change in the mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase subunits in the cells. 6. The results suggest that the ability of neutrophils to generate •O-2(-) may be gradually potentiated by intermittent exposure to hypobaric hypoxia, even after the number of neutrophils in peripheral blood stabilizes.