Hypoxia and the hypoxia-regulated transcription factor HIF-1alpha regulate innate immune responses in respiratory epithelial cells

Introduction: Acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract, such as pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and COPD, are associated with mucosal and systemic hypoxia. Bacterial infections contribute to exacerbations in these diseases. Innate immune functions of respiratory epithelial cells are required to control and prevent colonization of the lung with bacterial pathogens. Our aim was to examine whether hypoxia and HIF-1alpha regulate innate immune mechanisms of respiratory epithelial cells. Methods: Primary respiratory epithelial cells and the bronchial epithelial cell line Calu-3 were cultured under normoxic and…