The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) couples immunity with metabolism. Issue 5 (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Halligan, Doug N.; Murphy, Stephen J.E.; Taylor, Cormac T.
• Is Part Of: Seminars in immunology. Volume 28:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 469
• Page End: 477
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Immunometabolism -- Immunometabolite -- Hypoxia -- Mitochondria -- Therapeutics; Immunology -- Periodicals; Allergy and Immunology -- Periodicals; Immunity -- Periodicals; Immunologie -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2016.09.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1044-5323

Abstract

Highlights: The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is regulated by multiple metabolic and immune signals. HIF regulates the expression of genes which contribute to both metabolism and immunity. HIF is a key link between metabolic function and host defence. HIF may be an important new target in inflammatory and infectious disease. Abstract: Crosstalk between metabolic and immune pathways has recently become appreciated to be key to the regulation of host defence. The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a transcription factor which was initially described as a ubiquitous master regulator of the transcriptional response to hypoxia. In this role, HIF regulates genes promoting adaptation to hypoxia including a number which influence the cellular metabolic strategy of a cell. It has more recently been appreciated that the regulation of HIF is not restricted to oxygen-dependent pathways, and is now known to be mediated by a number of additional metabolic and immune cues including metabolites and cytokines respectively. Furthermore, our understanding of the functional role of HIF has expanded to it now being appreciated as a major regulator of host immunity. This places HIF in an ideal position to act as a regulatory hub which links metabolic activity with immunity. In this review we synthesise recent data which identifies HIF as both a target and effector for metabolic and immune processes. Developing our understanding of the role of HIF in this context will uncover new therapeutic targets for inflammatory and infectious disease.