Transcriptomic Insights from RNA-Seq into High-Altitude Stress Responses during the Leipzig Peak Expedition, Pamir Range

This project investigates transcriptional adaptations to extreme environmental stress during the Leipzig Peak Expedition. RNA-seq profiling of peripheral blood from five participants revealed 28,222 transcripts, with 410 significantly regulated after statistical and biological filtering. Feature prioritization identified 80 highly variable genes, including key regulators such as LONP1, DUSP7, and PER1. Pathway analysis indicated coordinated responses in hypoxia adaptation, mitochondrial proteostasis, immune modulation, and stress signaling. Expression shifts observed during acclimatization highlighted dynamic transcriptional reprogramming, providing insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying human physiological adjustment to sustained high-altitude challenge.