The study of hemoglobin's role in hypoxic acclimation and adaptation is a critical area of research within the field of physiology and evolutionary biology. Hypoxemia, characterized by decreased tissue oxygen partial pressure, poses a significant physiological challenge across the animal kingdom. Despite the current atmospheric oxygen concentration of 20.95%, historical fluctuations have seen levels as low as 15% since the Cambrian period, approximately 540 million years ago, when vertebrates first emerged. Evolutionary pressures have enabled vertebrates to survive, and in some cases thrive, in these low oxygen environments. Hemoglobin (Hb) is a pivotal molecule in vertebrates, essential for oxygen delivery to tissues and crucial for human survival. Variations in Hb structure, function, and quantity are observed among vertebrates exposed to low oxygen conditions. While hypoxia presents a survival challenge, hypobaric hypoxia, experienced at high altitudes, is increasingly relevant to human activities such as mining, sports, tourism, and habitation. This necessitates novel approaches to improve human outcomes during such exposures. Additionally, various diseases induce hypoxia, contributing significantly to human morbidity and mortality. Despite ongoing research, there remains a need for a deeper understanding of Hb's role in hypoxic conditions, particularly in integrating these responses into whole-animal physiology.

This Research Topic aims to explore hemoglobin's function during short to long-term exposure to hypobaric hypoxia, from basic to clinical human research. The objective is to enhance our understanding of Hb's role in vertebrates' responses to both acute and chronic hypoxia. By investigating these adaptive and acclimation responses, the research seeks to inform potential therapeutic strategies for human hypoxia. The study will address specific questions regarding the mechanisms of Hb adaptation and acclimation, and test hypotheses related to its structural and functional variations in response to hypoxic conditions.

To gather further insights into the role of hemoglobin in hypoxic conditions, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Hemoglobin structure and function in low oxygen environments;
- Evolutionary adaptations of hemoglobin in vertebrates;
- Physiological mechanisms of hypoxic acclimation and adaptation;
- Clinical implications of hemoglobin function in human hypoxia;
- Cellular and molecular biology of hemoglobin under hypoxic stress;
- Comparative studies of hemoglobin across different species;
- Therapeutic approaches to enhance human outcomes in hypobaric hypoxia.

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Frontiers in Physiology

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