Andeans with altitude sickness produce massive amounts of red blood cells

(University of California - San Diego) To better understand why some people adapt well to life at high altitude while others don't, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine studied red blood cells derived from representatives of both groups living in the Andes Mountains. The study reveals that high-altitude, low-oxygen dwellers prone to chronic mountain sickness produce massive amounts of red blood cells thanks to overproduction of the enzyme SENP1.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2efgjsM