55th Bowditch Lecture: Effects of chronic hypoxia on the pulmonary circulation: Role of HIF-1

When exposed to chronic hypoxia (CH), the pulmonary circulation responds with enhanced contraction and vascular remodeling, resulting in elevated pulmonary arterial pressures. Our work has identified CH-induced alterations in the expression and activity of several ion channels and transporters in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle that contribute to the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and uncovered a critical role for the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) in mediating these responses. Current work is focused on the regulation of HIF in the chronically hypoxic lung and evaluation of the potential for pharmacological inhibitors of HIF to prevent, reverse, or slow the progression of pulmonary hypertension.