Summary
Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is an oxygen-dependent transcription factor that activates
a diverse set of target genes, the products of which are involved in adaptive processes
to hypoxia. Employing genetic manipulation of HIF expression, in-vivo and cellular
studies have focused on HIF as a crucial factor affecting hypoxia-induced vascular
remodeling.Vascular remodeling comprises processes which establish and improve blood
vessel supply such as vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. These processes
are observed during ontogenesis, tumor progression, ischemic disease or physical training.
Furthermore, under hypoxic conditions, a pulmonary-specific type of vascular remodeling
called pulmonary arterial remodeling occurs that is characterized by thickening of
the vessel wall with a concomitant reduction in the vessel lumen area, thereby limiting
blood flow.This response results in pulmonary hypertension with right ventricular
hypertrophy, a lethal disease. In this review, we summarize and discuss mechanisms
by which HIF interferes with the different vascular remodeling processes.
Keywords
Arteriogenesis - angiogenesis - vasculogenesis - hypoxia - pulmonary hypertension