title: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in hepatic fibrosis: A promising therapeutic target.
abstract: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) is a regulated subunit of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1), which functions as a key transcription factor in response to hypoxic stress by regulating genes involved in maintaining oxygen homeostasis. In recent years, a growing body of studies showed that HIF-1α was significantly increased in hepatic fibrotic tissues and activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Furthermore, knockdown of HIF-1α expression inhibited the proliferation and activation of HSCs. In addition, HIF-1α-dependent genes and the extensive network of signaling cascades focus on HIF-1α have been reported to associate with the development of hepatic fibrosis, suggesting that HIF-1α might play a crucial role in hepatic fibrosis. However, the mechanisms by which HIF-1α regulates hepatic fibrosis are still undefined. In this review, we concentrate on multiple signaling pathways and genes related with HIF-1α which may be involved in the development of hepatic fibrosis, further discussing its potential as a novel therapeutic target for hepatic fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China; Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (AMU), China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China; Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (AMU), China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China; Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (AMU), China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China; Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (AMU), China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China; Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (AMU), China.
authors.forename: Xiao Qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China; Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (AMU), China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China; Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (AMU), China. Electronic address: lj@ahmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
keywords: Hepatic fibrosis; Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha; Signaling pathways; Therapeutic target