Abstract

As the only cell type responsible for oxygen delivery, erythrocytes play a crucial role in supplying oxygen to hypoxic tissues, ensuring their normal functions. Hypoxia commonly occurs under physiological or pathological conditions, and understanding how erythrocytes adapt to hypoxia is fundamental for exploring the mechanisms of hypoxic diseases. Additionally, investigating acute and chronic mountain sickness caused by plateaus, which are naturally hypoxic environments, will aid in the study of hypoxic diseases. In recent years, increasingly developed proteomics and metabolomics technologies have become powerful tools for studying mature enucleated erythrocytes, which has significantly contributed to clarifying how hypoxia affects erythrocytes. The aim of this article is to summarize the composition of the cytoskeleton and cytoplasmic proteins of hypoxia-altered erythrocytes and explore the impact of hypoxia on their essential functions. Furthermore, we discuss the role of microRNAs in the adaptation of erythrocytes to hypoxia, providing new perspectives on hypoxia-related diseases.

MeSH

Erythrocytes, Hypoxia

Cited by

• Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cerebral Ischemia: Advances in Pharmacological Interventions. Antioxidants (Basel), 2025
• Bovine Collagen Peptide Improves Hypoxia Tolerance and Anti-Fatigue Capacity in Hypobaric Hypoxic Environments: A Combined Animal and Human Study. Food Sci Nutr, 2025
• Life destiny of erythrocyte in high altitude erythrocytosis: mechanisms underlying the progression from physiological (moderate) to pathological (excessive) high-altitude erythrocytosis. Front Genet, 2025