Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction: mechanisms of oxygen-sensing

摘要

Purpose of the reviewHypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is driven by the intrinsic response to hypoxia of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle and endothelial cells. These are representatives of a group of specialised O2-sensing cells, defined by their acute sensitivity to relatively small changes in pO2, which have evolved to modulate respiratory and circulatory function in order to maintain O2 supply within physiological limits. The aim of this article is to discuss recent investigations into the mechanism(s) of hypoxia-response coupling and, in light of these, provide a critical assessment of current working hypotheses.