Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1): A Potential Target for Intervention in Ocular Neovascular Diseases

Title:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1): A Potential Target for Intervention in Ocular Neovascular Diseases

Volume: 14 Issue: 8

Author(s): Ramya Krishna Vadlapatla, Aswani Dutt Vadlapudi and Ashim K. Mitra

Affiliation:

Keywords: Age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, hypoxia signaling, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), ocular neovascularization, retinopathy of prematurity.

Abstract: Constant oxygen supply is essential for proper tissue development, homeostasis and function of all eukaryotic organisms. Cellular response to reduced oxygen levels is mediated by the transcriptional regulator hypoxia-inducible factor- 1 (HIF-1). It is a heterodimeric complex protein consisting of an oxygen dependent subunit (HIF-1α) and a constitutively expressed nuclear subunit (HIF-1β). In normoxic conditions, de novo synthesized cytoplasmic HIF-1α is degraded by 26S proteasome. Under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1α is stabilized, binds with HIF-1β and activates transcription of various target genes. These genes play a key role in regulating angiogenesis, cell survival, proliferation, chemotherapy, radiation resistance, invasion, metastasis, genetic instability, immortalization, immune evasion, metabolism and stem cell maintenance. This review highlights the importance of hypoxia signaling in development and progression of various vision threatening pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Further, various inhibitors of HIF-1 pathway that may have a viable potential in the treatment of oxygendependent ocular diseases are also discussed.

Cite this article as:

Vadlapatla Krishna Ramya, Vadlapudi Dutt Aswani and Mitra K. Ashim, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1): A Potential Target for Intervention in Ocular Neovascular Diseases, Current Drug Targets 2013; 14 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13894501113149990015