RNA Interference and the Regulation of Renal Gene Expression in Hypoxia

Abstract

Hypoxia is a common occurrence both in health and disease, and it contributes to both physiologic and pathophysiologic processes through the regulation of gene expression. At the cellular level, highly conserved signaling pathways that activate transcription factors, including (but not limited to) the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and nuclear factor κB (NFκB) demonstrate hypoxic sensitivity and modulate gene expression in response to changes in microenvironmental oxygen concentrations. Recent evidence has revealed that posttranscriptional mechanisms based on RNA interference are also critically important in the regulation of global gene expression. In this chapter, we will discuss the potential importance of RNA interference in the regulation of gene expression in response to hypoxia with a particular emphasis on renal disease.