Is there a molecular connection between hypoxia and aging?

Aging is associated with high incidence of ischemic diseases, which go along with a drop in tissue oxygenation. At the molecular level the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) is the master regulator for hypoxia-induced gene expression. Recent studies demonstrated age-related changes in the HIF system, which might explain the reduced ability to cope with hypoxia in elderly. There are also some evidences that HIF is functionally connected to the aging process itself. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.