Santos SAD, Andrade DRD. HIF-1alpha and infectious diseases: a new frontier for the development of new therapies.
Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2017;
59:e92. [PMID:
29267600 PMCID:
PMC5738998 DOI:
10.1590/s1678-9946201759092]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this review is to show the significant role of HIF-1alpha in inflammatory and infectious diseases. Hypoxia is a physiological characteristic of a wide range of diseases from cancer to infection. Cellular hypoxia is sensed by oxygen-sensitive hydrolase enzymes, which control the protein stability of hypoxia-inducible factor alpha 1 (HIF-1alpha) transcription factors. When stabilized, HIF-1alpha binds with its cofactors to HIF-responsive elements (HREs) in the promoters of target genes to organize a broad ranging transcriptional program in response to the hypoxic environment. HIF-1alpha also plays a regulatory function in response to a diversity of molecular signals of infection and inflammation even under normoxic conditions. HIF-1alpha is stimulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors and a wide range of infections. Its induction is a general element of the host response to infection. In this review, we also discuss recent advances in knowledge on HIF-1alpha and inflammatory responses, as well as its direct influence in infectious diseases caused by bacteria, virus, protozoan parasites and fungi.
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