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Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype and successful ascent to extreme high altitude

Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype and successful ascent to extreme high altitude
Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype and successful ascent to extreme high altitude
Interindividual variation in acclimatization to altitude suggests a genetic component, and several candidate genes have been proposed. One such candidate is a polymorphism in the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene, where the insertion (I-allele), rather than the deletion (D-allele), of a 287 base pair sequence has been associated with lower circulating and tissue ACE activity and has a greater than normal frequency among elite endurance athletes and, in a single study, among elite high altitude mountaineers. We tested the hypothesis that the I-allele is associated with successful ascent to the extreme high altitude of 8000 m. 141 mountaineers who had participated in expeditions attempting to climb an 8000-m peak completed a questionnaire and provided a buccal swab for ACE I/D genotyping. ACE genotype was determined in 139 mountaineers. ACE genotype distribution differed significantly between those who had successfully climbed beyond 8000 m and those who had not (p = 0.003), with a relative overrepresentation of the I-allele among the successful group (0.55 vs. 0.36 in successful vs. unsuccessful, respectively). The I-allele was associated with increased maximum altitudes achieved: 8079 +/- 947 m for DDs, 8107 +/- 653 m for IDs, and 8559 +/- 565 m for IIs (p = 0.007). There was no statistical difference in ACE genotype frequency between those who climbed to over 8000 m using supplementary oxygen and those who did not (p = 0.267). This study demonstrates an association between the ACE I-allele and successful ascent to over 8000 m.
1527-0297
278-285
Thompson, Julian
4c88bf44-2a11-40f4-8dfc-2047702bd5e0
Raitt, James
bc776550-c55f-40eb-ac53-ade624c59d68
Hutchings, Lynn
47761d2e-4889-4531-9851-9cbc82e44c3d
Drenos, Fotios
487780b6-ab9b-4ee4-96da-e88cba183faf
Bjargo, Eirik
2f3786b7-9fb5-4b07-993f-4cc8d021e43d
Loset, Are
c70c5bd4-9e1c-47f9-af16-86a0e9dc0578
Grocott, Mike
1e87b741-513e-4a22-be13-0f7bb344e8c2
Montgomery, Hugh
ec760637-aea7-43be-98d1-71a1f72e6efa
Thompson, Julian
4c88bf44-2a11-40f4-8dfc-2047702bd5e0
Raitt, James
bc776550-c55f-40eb-ac53-ade624c59d68
Hutchings, Lynn
47761d2e-4889-4531-9851-9cbc82e44c3d
Drenos, Fotios
487780b6-ab9b-4ee4-96da-e88cba183faf
Bjargo, Eirik
2f3786b7-9fb5-4b07-993f-4cc8d021e43d
Loset, Are
c70c5bd4-9e1c-47f9-af16-86a0e9dc0578
Grocott, Mike
1e87b741-513e-4a22-be13-0f7bb344e8c2
Montgomery, Hugh
ec760637-aea7-43be-98d1-71a1f72e6efa

Thompson, Julian, Raitt, James, Hutchings, Lynn, Drenos, Fotios, Bjargo, Eirik, Loset, Are, Grocott, Mike and Montgomery, Hugh (2007) Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype and successful ascent to extreme high altitude. High Altitude Medicine & Biology, 8 (4), 278-285. (doi:10.1089/ham.2007.1044). (PMID:18081503)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Interindividual variation in acclimatization to altitude suggests a genetic component, and several candidate genes have been proposed. One such candidate is a polymorphism in the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene, where the insertion (I-allele), rather than the deletion (D-allele), of a 287 base pair sequence has been associated with lower circulating and tissue ACE activity and has a greater than normal frequency among elite endurance athletes and, in a single study, among elite high altitude mountaineers. We tested the hypothesis that the I-allele is associated with successful ascent to the extreme high altitude of 8000 m. 141 mountaineers who had participated in expeditions attempting to climb an 8000-m peak completed a questionnaire and provided a buccal swab for ACE I/D genotyping. ACE genotype was determined in 139 mountaineers. ACE genotype distribution differed significantly between those who had successfully climbed beyond 8000 m and those who had not (p = 0.003), with a relative overrepresentation of the I-allele among the successful group (0.55 vs. 0.36 in successful vs. unsuccessful, respectively). The I-allele was associated with increased maximum altitudes achieved: 8079 +/- 947 m for DDs, 8107 +/- 653 m for IDs, and 8559 +/- 565 m for IIs (p = 0.007). There was no statistical difference in ACE genotype frequency between those who climbed to over 8000 m using supplementary oxygen and those who did not (p = 0.267). This study demonstrates an association between the ACE I-allele and successful ascent to over 8000 m.

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Published date: 14 December 2007
Organisations: Human Development & Health

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Local EPrints ID: 348938
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/348938
ISSN: 1527-0297
PURE UUID: 9f769535-462e-43ed-b293-7ad5fbbef834
ORCID for Mike Grocott: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9484-7581

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Date deposited: 04 Mar 2013 14:11
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:33

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Contributors

Author: Julian Thompson
Author: James Raitt
Author: Lynn Hutchings
Author: Fotios Drenos
Author: Eirik Bjargo
Author: Are Loset
Author: Mike Grocott ORCID iD
Author: Hugh Montgomery

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