Effects of Oxygen Status on Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1-α and Inflammation. A Pilot Proof of Principle Study.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥18 and ≤35 yrs
• Male
• Healthy

Exclusion criteria

• Use of any medication
• Smoking
• History, signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease
• History of atrial or ventricular arrhythmia
• (Family) history of myocardial infarction or stroke under the age of 65 years
• Cardiac conduction abnormalities on the ECG consisting of a 2nd degree atrioventricular block or a complex bundle branch block
• Hypertension (defined as RR systolic > 160 or RR diastolic > 90 mmHg)
• Hypotension (defined as RR systolic < 100 or RR diastolic < 50 mmHg)
• Renal impairment (defined as plasma creatinine >120 μmol/l)
• Liver enzyme abnormalities alkaline phosphatase>230 U/L and/or ALT>90 U/L
• Medical history of any obvious disease associated with immune deficiency
• CRP > 20 mg/L, WBC > 12x109/L, or clinically significant acute illness, including infections, within 4 weeks before endotoxemia day
• Participation in a drug trial or donation of blood 3 months prior to the experiment
• Pre-existent lung disease or asthma
• Use of recreational drugs within 21 days prior to experiment day
• Visit to altitude >1500m within 4 weeks prior to the experiment
• Air travel with flight time over 3 hours within 4 weeks prior to the experiment
• History of acute mountain sickness
• Recent hospital admission or surgery with general anaesthesia (<3 months)
• Claustrophobia
• Feelings of discomfort during a 10 minute test wearing the transparent respiratory helmet at the screening visit