What is the function of HIF?

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF)-1 is a dimeric protein complex that plays an integral role in the body’s response to low oxygen concentrations, or hypoxia. HIF-1 is among the primary genes involved in the homeostatic process, which can increase vascularization in hypoxic areas such as localized ischemia and tumors.

What does hypoxia-inducible factor do?

Hypoxia-inducible factor regulates several genes that promote the adaptation to hypoxia [for example, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), erythropoietin, and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1)] and also genes that promote a metabolic switch to glycolysis through the transcriptional regulation of key metabolic enzymes …

How does HIF-1 play a role in hypoxia?

The analysis of pathways highlights HIF-1 (heterodimeric transcription factor 1) activity in normoxia in metabolic process and HIF-1 activity in hypoxia in neuronal differentiation process. HIF1A driven transcriptional response in hypoxia depends on epigenetic control at DNA methylation status of gene regulatory regions.

How does low oxygen levels affect HIF1A transcription?

Furthermore, low oxygen levels generate HIF1A-dependent or HIF1A-independent signatures, able to stratify patients according to risk categories. These findings may help to understand the molecular mechanisms by which low oxygen levels reshape gene signatures and provide new direction for hypoxia targeting in solid tumor.

Why is HIF1A expression important in solid tumors?

HIF1A (Hypoxia-Inducible-Factor 1A) expression in solid tumors is relevant to establish resistance to therapeutic approaches. The use of compounds direct against hypoxia signaling and HIF1A does not show clinical efficiency because of changeable oxygen concentrations in solid tumor areas.

How does hypoxia affect gene expression in NB cells?

To shed light on the molecular mechanisms by which hypoxia reshapes gene expressions of tumors, we have performed an integrated analysis of gene expression and DNA methylation in NB cells upon HIF1A inhibition in normoxia and hypoxia conditions.