title: Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Target Genes Contribute to Retinal Neuroprotection.
abstract: Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a transcription factor that facilitates cellular adaptation to hypoxia and ischemia. Long-standing evidence suggests that one isotype of HIF, HIF-1α, is involved in the pathogenesis of various solid tumors and cardiac diseases. However, the role of HIF-1α in retina remains poorly understood. HIF-1α has been recognized as neuroprotective in cerebral ischemia in the past two decades. Additionally, an increasing number of studies has shown that HIF-1α and its target genes contribute to retinal neuroprotection. This review will focus on recent advances in the studies of HIF-1α and its target genes that contribute to retinal neuroprotection. A thorough understanding of the function of HIF-1α and its target genes may lead to identification of novel therapeutic targets for treating degenerative retinal diseases including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusions.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, China; Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command of PLAGuangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Honghua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Laboratories, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Naihong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Kunbei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, China; Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine and Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers University-Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscataway, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Mengqing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xiang
keywords: HIF-1α; hypoxia preconditioning; neuroprotection; retina; retinal degeneration