Critical role of HIF-1α in keratinocyte defense against bacterial infection

Skin, the first barrier against invading microorganisms, is hypoxic, even under baseline conditions. The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha, the principal regulator of cellular adaptation to low oxygen, is strongly expressed in skin epithelium. HIF-1 alpha is now understood to play a key role in the bactericidal capacity of phagocytic cells such as macrophages and neutrophils. In the skin, keratinocytes provide a direct antibacterial activity through production of antimicrobial peptides, including cathelicidin. Here, we generate mice with a keratinocyte-specific deletion of HIF-1 alpha and examine effects on intrinsic skin immunity. Keratinocyte HIF-1 alpha is seen to provide protection against necrotic skin lesions produced by the pathogen group A Streptococcus. RNA interference studies reveal that HIF-1 alpha regulation of keratinocyte cathelicidin production is critical to their antibacterial function.