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Related Concept Videos

Hypoxia01:23

Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a medical condition characterized by an inadequate oxygen supply to body tissues. It typically manifests as a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucosae, especially in fair-skinned individuals, when hemoglobin (Hb) saturation drops below 75%.
Types of Hypoxia
There are four primary types of hypoxia, each resulting from a different cause:
1. Anemic hypoxia: This type occurs due to insufficient oxygen delivery caused by a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) or RBCs with abnormal or...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Physiological Control of Respiration01:23

Physiological Control of Respiration

Introduction
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...

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Induction and Testing of Hypoxia in Cell Culture
07:01

Induction and Testing of Hypoxia in Cell Culture

Published on: August 12, 2011

Sensing hypoxia: physiology, genetics and epigenetics.

Nanduri R Prabhakar1

  • 1Institute for Integrative Physiology, Center for Systems Biology of O(2) Sensing, Biological Sciences Division, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. nanduri@uchicago.edu

The Journal of Physiology
|March 6, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Gaseous messengers like CO and H2S play key roles in carotid body oxygen sensing. Genetic and epigenetic factors influence this process, impacting cardiorespiratory diseases.

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Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • The carotid body detects arterial oxygen levels, mediating cardiorespiratory responses to hypoxia.
  • Type I cells within the carotid body are responsible for oxygen sensing.
  • Gaseous messengers, including carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), are involved in carotid body sensory transduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the roles of gaseous messengers in carotid body sensory transduction.
  • To explore genetic and epigenetic influences on hypoxic sensing.
  • To examine the carotid body chemoreflex's role in cardiorespiratory diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of physiological studies on gaseous messengers (CO and H2S) in carotid body function.
  • Analysis of genetic (hypoxia-inducible factors) and epigenetic (DNA methylation) influences.
  • Examination of emerging evidence linking carotid body chemoreflex to cardiorespiratory diseases.

Main Results:

  • CO acts as an inhibitory messenger during normoxia, while H2S is excitatory during hypoxia.
  • Hypoxia-induced H2S generation involves the interaction of cystathionine-γ-lyase and haem oxygenase-2.
  • Hypoxia-inducible factors regulate intracellular redox state, influencing hypoxic sensing.
  • Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, may program carotid body responses to hypoxia.
  • Heightened carotid body chemoreflex is implicated in conditions like sleep-apnea, heart failure, and hypertension.

Conclusions:

  • Gaseous messengers (CO, H2S) are critical for carotid body oxygen sensing and hypoxic responses.
  • Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms significantly modulate hypoxic sensing in the carotid body.
  • Dysregulation of the carotid body chemoreflex contributes to the progression of major cardiorespiratory diseases.