Topic: hypoxia-inducible factors

Stroke is one of the major reasons for death and disability. Insufficient blood flow in stroke interferes the brain from proper oxygenation, leading to the stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). To determine the role of HIFs in stroke, particularly HIF-2α, an in vivo model called tMCAO (transient middle cerebral artery occlusion) and an in vitromodel with human SH-SY5Y cells was used. On both, Hif-2α deficient and wild type mice, tMCAO was conducted for two hours. In addition to RNA and protein samples, tissue for immunofluorescence microscopy was collected of ischemic and control

Primary cilia are non-motile, antenna-like organelles present on the surface of most human cell types. They play an essential role in processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and differentiation. Primary cilia are involved in many signalling pathways, including Hedgehog, WNT, and TGF-β. Consequently, ciliary dysfunctions lead to severe diseases known as ciliopathies.The formation and function of primary cilia are closely associated with the cell's oxygen supply. Proper cell function requires adequate oxygen levels, so cells must respond quickly to any deviation from the norm. The

Hypoxia is increasingly seen as urgent physiological driving force, permitting cells within the brain and in other parts of the body to acclimate to lowered oxygen (O2) and reduced metabolism. The mediating transcription program is induced by inspiratory hypoxia but also by intensive motor-cognitive tasks, provoking a relative decrease in O2 in relation to the acutely augmented requirement. We named this essential, demand-dependent drop in O2 accessibility ′functional hypoxia′. Major players within the hypoxia reaction are hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) and associated prolyl-hydroxylases. HIF