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Research progress on the correlation between hemoglobin gene polymorphism and high-altitude hypoxia adaptation

JI Qian^1,2, SUN Yue-Mei², ZHANG Ying-Fei², WANG Rong^1,2, LI Wen-Bin^1,2,*

¹College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China；²Department of Pharmacy, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Lanzhou 730050, China

Abstract

Hemoglobin in red blood cells is essential for oxygen binding, transport, and delivery, functioning as a molecular switch between the deoxygenated (T-state) and oxygenated (R-state) conformations. Genetic polymorphisms in hemoglobin can significantly alter its oxygen affinity. While current research often focuses on endogenous and exogenous modulators of hemoglobin conformation, the role of these polymorphisms in high-altitude hypoxia adaptation remains less reviewed. This article starts from the phenomenon of amino acid substitution in globin chains, summarizes the effects of gene polymorphism on the structure and function of hemoglobin, and explores the association between high-oxygen-affinity hemoglobin and high-altitude hypoxia adaptation, hoping to provide new ideas for high-altitude hypoxia adaptation research.

Key words: hemoglobin; gene polymorphism; structural function; high-altitude hypoxia adaptation

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 李文斌　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0103

Citing This Article：

JI Qian, SUN Yue-Mei, ZHANG Ying-Fei, WANG Rong, LI Wen-Bin. Research progress on the correlation between hemoglobin gene polymorphism and high-altitude hypoxia adaptation. Acta Physiol Sin 2025; 77 (6): 1062-1070 (in Chinese with English abstract).