Hypoxia vs Hyperoxia: the effects of too much and too little Oxygen

The importance of Hyperoxia and Hypoxia-related pathways

Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, has been a source of growing interest in many different fields of biomedical research. The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was indeed awarded to three Physician Scientists working in this research field.

Generalized Hypoxia can occur both in physiological conditions (subjects exposed to minor atmospheric pressures, at high altitudes) and because of respiratory pathologies, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

Hypoxia can also be a short term consequence of the first phases of anesthesia during surgery, between anesthetics administration and intubation.

One of the main treatments for Hypoxia is Oxygen administration, which can, on the other hand, create a situation of Hyperoxia (excess Oxygen).

What We Know So Far: the consequences of Hypoxia and Hyperoxia

Hypoxia and Hyperoxia can be both sources of oxidative stress. Excess oxygen becomes a substrate for the formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), highly unstable compounds which can easily and quickly react with proteins, DNA and the lipids of the cell membranes.

ROS are also produced in excess when Oxygen is not enough for the antioxidant barrier of the cell to work properly.

Progress and Prospects: looking for new biomarkers

Our laboratory aims at investigating the effects of increased (hyperoxia) or decreased (hypoxia) oxygen concentrations through a various panel of markers involving iron metabolism, hemoglobin and oxidative stress.
This happens thanks to the collaboration between the basic research performed in the laboratory of biochemistry and some of the Clinical Departments of the San Paolo Hospital in Milan (especially Intensive Care Unit and Pneumology), which cooperate for the collection of clinical data and blood samples.