Regulation of iron metabolism by hypoxia-inducible factors

Sheng Li Xue Bao. 2017 Oct 25;69(5):598-610.

Abstract

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are central mediators of cellular adaption to hypoxia. The heterodimeric HIF transcription factors consist of HIF-α and HIF-β, that form functional HIFs. Mammals contain HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and HIF-3α. HIFs play a key role in iron metabolism by regulating the expression of iron-related proteins, such as divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), duodenal cytochrome b (Dcytb), and transferrin receptor (TfR). Hepcidin and iron regulatory proteins (IRPs), the central mediators for systematic and intracellular iron homeostasis, are also regulated by HIFs. In this review, we summarized the regulatory effects of HIFs on iron-related proteins, thus providing insights into the control of HIFs as therapeutic strategies for some iron related disorders.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Hepcidins
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / physiology*
  • Iron / metabolism*

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Hepcidins
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1
  • Iron