High altitude hypoxia and oxidative stress: The new hope brought by free radical scavengers, 2024, Xuefeng Li et al

Abstract
Various strategies can be employed to prevent and manage altitude illnesses, including habituation, oxygenation, nutritional support, and medication. Nevertheless, the utilization of drugs for the prevention and treatment of hypoxia is accompanied by certain adverse effects. Consequently, the quest for medications that exhibit minimal side effects while demonstrating high efficacy remains a prominent area of research. In this context, it is noteworthy that free radical scavengers exhibit remarkable anti-hypoxia activity. These scavengers effectively eliminate excessive free radicals and mitigate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby safeguarding the body against oxidative damage induced by plateau hypoxia. In this review, we aim to elucidate the pathogenesis of plateau diseases that are triggered by hypoxia-induced oxidative stress at high altitudes.

Additionally, we present a range of free radical scavengers as potential therapeutic and preventive approaches to mitigate the occurrence of common diseases associated with hypoxia at high altitudes.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024320523009542?via=ihub

 

Potential therapeutic effects of free radical scavengers
ROS generated in the hypoxic environment promote the expression of genes that are adapted to the hypoxic environment through the activation of transcription factors such as HIF-1 and Nrf2. They also provide cellular protection and adaptation by up-regulating the transcription of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory genes. By upregulating Nrf2 and increasing antioxidants, cells can enhance their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, reduce cellular damage caused by ROS, and provide

Conclusion and perspectives
Hypoxia is a fundamental pathological process in many diseases, such as altitude sickness and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the development of anti-hypoxia drugs is of great significance. Under hypoxic conditions, the increased formation of ROS disrupts the body's oxidative balance, which may directly or indirectly lead to the development of diseases related to high altitude exposure. Free radical scavengers have a significant anti-hypoxic effect on high-altitude hypoxia. In the future, we