The role of hypoxia inducible factor in nasal inflammations

K.-J. Cheng, Y.-Y. Bao, S.-H. Zhou

Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. zhoushuihong127@163.com

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• Otorhinolaryngology

OBJECTIVE: Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is considered an important transcription factor due to its roles in glycolysis, angiogenesis, cell differentiation, apoptosis, and other cellular pathways. It takes the role in various physiological and pathological states, such as solid tumors, vascular injury, and atherosclerotic lesion progression. In recent studies, HIF is found as a master regulator of body inflammation and immunity, not only in hypoxia but also in normoxia. Nasal inflammation has a close relationship with anoxia. But the role of HIF in nasal inflammation is still unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the Pubmed using the key words: “Hypoxia-inducible factor” and “nasal” or “Hypoxia-inducible factor”, and reviewed the related articles.

RESULTS: HIF is composed of HIF-α and HIF-β subunits. HIF-a is an adjusting relational subunit, which is divided into three subtypes: HIF-1a, HIF-2a, and HIF-3a. HIF-1a is the key component and best understood. HIF-1a can be activated under hypoxic conditions or by various cytokines and growth factors. HIF-1α accumulation is critical for sustaining human allergic effector cell survival and function. The level of HIF-1a is increased in the patients with allergic rhinitis and become a new therapeutic target. HIF-1a also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CRS and polyp formation. Some research found that the expression of HIF-1α was increased in CRS with polyps.

CONCLUSIONS: HIF-1a takes an important role in allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis. It will be a key therapeutic target of these diseases in the future.

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