Hypoxia, HIF-1, and the pathophysiology of common human diseases

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2000:475:123-30. doi: 10.1007/0-306-46825-5_12.

Abstract

Hypoxia plays a fundamental role in the pathophysiology of common causes of mortality, including ischemic heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic lung disease, and congestive heart failure. In these disease states, hypoxia induces changes in gene expression in target organs that either fail to result in adequate adaptation or directly contribute to disease pathogenesis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional activator that is expressed in response to cellular hypoxia and mediates multiple cellular and systemic homeostatic responses to hypoxia. Recent studies have provided evidence that important pathophysiological responses to hypoxia in pulmonary hypertension, myocardial ischemia, and cancer are mediated by HIF-1. Pharmacologic and gene therapy strategies designed to modulate HIF-1 activity may represent a novel and effective therapeutic approach to these common disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / genetics
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / physiology
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / genetics
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / physiology
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / genetics
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Hypoxia / genetics
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology*
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Lymphokines / genetics
  • Lymphokines / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myocardial Revascularization / methods
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Endothelial Growth Factors
  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hif1a protein, mouse
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Lymphokines
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors