Extracellular matrix genes as hypoxia-inducible targets.
Low oxygen tension, i.e., hypoxia, is a pathophysiological component involved in many human disorders but is also a critically important phenomenon in normal development and differentiation. The ability of cells to survive under hypoxia or to adapt to it depends on a family of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) that induce the expression of a number of genes involved in hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, iron transport, glucose utilization, resistance to oxidative stress, cell proliferation, survival and apoptosis, and extracellular matrix homeostasis. We introduce here the recently identified molecular mechanisms responsible for the oxygen-dependent stability and activity of HIF, after which we focus on extracellular matrix genes as HIF targets. The vital role of the hypoxia response pathway in chondrogenesis and joint development is then discussed.
Myllyharju
Johanna
J
Oulu Center for Cell Matrix Research, Biocenter Oulu and Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oulu, Finland. johanna.myllyharju@oulu.fi
Schipani
Ernestina
E
D000818:Animals; D020219:Chondrogenesis; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014157:Transcription Factors