Fig. 7. Extended durations of low pO2 exposure caused cytoskeletal re-arrangements, perturbations in energy metabolism and inflammatory signaling in order to maintain redox homeostasis. STAT3 was a central protein modulating these processes. We qualitatively assessed cytoskeletal re-arrangements and inflammation by assaying specific proteins (using ELISA) in human plasma samples that were obtained from human volunteers undergoing extended high altitude stay (low pO2 conditions). Cytoskeletal re-arrangements (cofilin and α-1-AT) and inflammation (S100A8) were observed to be perturbed in humans.