Hypoxia-inducible factors-α as a regulator for forkhead box protein M1 in pulmonary artery hypertension

Abstract

Hypoxia is defined as decreased levels of oxygen in the cells, which are caused by vascular and pulmonary diseases. The catalysts of hypoxia in the physiological role are important in all living cells, whereas its metabolic dysfunction is related to many diseases. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) activity should be controlled by providing HIF modules. Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) plays a crucial role in the maintenance and differentiation of airways epithelial cell lining, especially during embryonic life, where it is essential in the formation and proliferation of pulmonary vessels. FOXM1 is overexpressed in the pulmonary artery smooth muscle in response to hypoxia through the elements that are present in the promoters of FOXM1; therefore, it was used to diagnose patients with pulmonary artery hypertension.