Breathing faster in thin air

Abstract

Physiology When individuals who live at sea level ascend to higher altitudes, they automatically breathe faster to increase their oxygen uptake. This response is triggered by glomus cells, oxygen-sensitive neuron-like cells in the carotid body. Using genetically modified mice, Moreno-Dominguez et al. found that the gene expression pattern mediated by the oxygen-sensitive transcription factor HIF2α was necessary for this acute hypoxic response in glomus cells (see the Focus by Bishop and Ratcliffe). The authors propose that HIF2α may set the acute oxygen-sensing ability of other tissues as well. Sci. Signal. 13 , eaay9452, eaba1302 (2020).