HIf1 and oxygen sensing in the brain

Of all the chemical elements, oxygen is the most vital to the human body. The brain is the most sensitive organ to oxygen deprivation (hypoxia), which, over an extended period, can cause coma, seizures, cognitive impairment and other neurological disabilities, and even brain death. However, during mild hypoxia of short duration, the brain develops adaptative mechanisms that allow it to maintain normal physiological conditions. In this review, we discuss some of the molecular mechanisms of oxygen sensing in the brain. Particular emphasis is placed on the oxygen-dependant regulation of the transcription factor HIF1 (hypoxia-inducible factor 1) - one of the main cellular responses to hypoxia that operates in numerous cell types.