Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α Regulates Expression of Genes in Hypoxic Hepatic Stellate Cells Important for Collagen Deposition and Angiogenesis

摘要

Background/AimsSeveral studies have shown that regions of hypoxia develop in the liver during chronic injury. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that hypoxia stimulates the release of mediators from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) that may affect the progression of fibrosis. The mechanism by which hypoxia modulates gene expression in HSCs is not known. Recent studies demonstrated that the hypoxia-activated transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), is critical for the development of fibrosis. Accordingly, the hypothesis was tested that HIF-1α is activated in HSCs and regulates expression of genes important for HSC activation and liver fibrosis.