Interplay between ER stress and hypoxia pathways in chondrocytes

Abstract

Interplay between stress signals can regulate cell fate. Potential connections are emerging between hypoxia and ER homeostasis. It is well established that presence of mis-folded protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) triggers the unfolded protein response (UPR) as part of the ER-stress signal for cell survival. Under low oxygen tension or hypoxia, the cell activates the hypoxic stress signal via the activation of Hif genes, and utilize components of the ER-stress pathways for cell survival and adaptation to the stress condition. However, whether activation of ER stress by accumulation of mis-folded protein has a direct relationship with activation of hypoxia and components ...