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Oxygen Sensing and Viral Replication: Implications for Tropism and Pathogenesis.
Peter Jianrui Liu1, Peter Balfe1, Jane A McKeating1
1Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.
Viruses
|October 29, 2020
Summary
Cells sense oxygen levels using pathways like the prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD)/hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) system. This oxygen sensing influences viral replication, potentially offering new therapeutic targets for infections.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
Background:
- Cellular oxygen detection is vital for life.
- Key oxygen-sensing pathways include PHD/FIH-HIF, ADO, and KDMs.
- Oxygen tension varies across tissues and impacts cellular functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review oxygen-sensing pathways in the context of viral replication.
- To explore the role of oxygen tension and HIF signaling in viral tropism and pathogenesis.
- To identify potential therapeutic strategies targeting oxygen-sensing mechanisms for viral infections.
Main Methods:
- Systems-based literature review.
- Analysis of existing data on oxygen sensing and viral replication.
- Integration of information on tissue-specific oxygen tension and viral tropism.
Main Results:
- The PHD-HIF pathway appears to promote viral replication in low-oxygen environments.
- Conversely, viruses in high-oxygen tissues may be inhibited by this pathway.
- Oxygen levels and HIF signaling significantly influence viral tropism and disease severity.
Conclusions:
- Oxygen sensing, particularly via the PHD-HIF pathway, plays a critical role in viral tropism and pathogenesis.
- Modulating HIF activity presents a promising avenue for novel antiviral therapies.
- Understanding oxygen's role can lead to new treatments for viral diseases.
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