Your immune system perceives these allergens as dangerous, resulting in an asthma attack. Around one in 14 people in the Austrian population is affected by asthma, including many children (https://www.gesundheit.gv.at/krankheiten/atemwege/asthma/ursachen-ausloeser). It is often treated with inhaled corticosteroids, which are usually very effective but can also have side effects. New treatment options are currently being intensively researched. The so-called “altitude cure”, which has been known for a long time, is clinically effective, although the underlying mechanisms have so far been largely unclear.

The team led by Dr. Leigh Marsh from the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Pulmonary Vascular Research, together with the Medical University of Graz, has now succeeded in demonstrating important cellular mechanisms of the altitude cure and contributing to the clarification of its clinical effectiveness. During the altitude cure, allergic inflammation appears to be interrupted by the absence of a certain immunological chain reaction. For an allergic immune reaction to occur, so-called antigen-presenting cells must recognise the allergen and present it to the T cells. These T-cells in turn stimulate B-cells, which ultimately produce and release specific antibodies – the allergic reaction or asthma attack can take place. These effects can be greatly inhibited by a reduced oxygen concentration. Hypoxia is therefore the factor that explains the effects of altitude exposure. In fact, the immune chain reaction is inhibited from the very beginning, starting with the antigen-presenting cells, which require a relatively high oxygen concentration to become fully active. In addition, oxygen is fundamentally required for communication between the various immune cells. The new findings could contribute to the development of new therapies in the future and were recently published in the journal “Allergy”. In the meantime, however, asthmatics can help themselves by enjoying the fresh mountain air.

However, the oxygen conditions simulated in the laboratory correspond to an altitude of around 5000 metres and serve as evidence for a basic study. Further work is needed to determine the minimum altitude and duration of altitude exposure for asthma. Regardless of this study, we should not forget that we all benefit from regularly enjoying the fresh mountain air.

Link to publication: Hochgerner M, Sturm EM, Schnoegl D, Kwapiszewska G, Olschewski H, Marsh LM Low oxygen levels decrease adaptive immune responses and ameliorate experimental asthma in mice.

LM. Allergy. 2021 Jul 26. doi: 10.1111/all.15020.