Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: High altitude-associated pathophysiological processes may potentially accelerate aging trajectory, while evidence remains limited. We present immune landscape characterization in human populations residing at 3656-meter (Lhasa) and 5070-meter (Tuiwacun) elevations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, complemented by multiorgan single-cell RNA sequencing and spatially enhanced resolution omics sequencing (Stereo-seq) of mice under simulated 5000-meter hypoxic conditions. Comparative analysis revealed significantly elevated neutrophil proportions in high-altitude population (HAP) cohorts relative to low-altitude population cohorts. Notably, aging-associated immune cells (AICs) including exhausted T cells, age-associated B cells, and high-aging-score immune cells showed marked enrichment in HAP cohorts, a pattern conserved in mouse models. Stereo-seq analyses further identified coordinated niche interactions between AICs and aging-related intestinal epithelial cells, suggesting accelerated gut aging trajectories. Our work establishes the multiomics framework for high-altitude immune remodeling while providing mechanistic insights into high altitude-associated pathophysiological processes.
Source: Science Advances
Authors: Yu Xiao, Yongfu Li, Yaqi Mao, Zichong Jin, Mengjie Sun, Xiangyang Wang, Gan Zhao, Yihong Song, Jing Li, Zhiying Zhang, Lijun Liu, Siwei Feng, Mingzheng Liu, Ziheng Chen, Xinmei Guo, Rui Yu, Hongju Li, Caifeng Yang, Changfen Luo, Jiahong Li, Zhifang Zhao, Juan Zhang, Lu Cai, Haiyang Ma, Shuqing Li, Shangshi Li, Fengye Xu, Guangwei Xin, Qing Jiang, Fen Huang, Longli Kang, Chuanmao Zhang
Language: English
Topic: High Altitude and Hypoxia
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
OpenAlex ID: W7155215001