Systemic hypoxia causes an increase in phagocytosis by peritoneal macrophages in a HIF-1 alpha dependent manner

METHODS: Macrophages were obtained from C3H/HeOUJ mice by peritoneal lavage. Hypoxia was induced in mice and RAW 264.7 macrophages using a modular hypoxic chamber (1% O2), and phagocytosis was quantified by confocal microscopy after internalization of IgG-opsonized erythrocytes (37degC). p38MAPK and HIF signaling were assessed by SDS-PAGE. HIF-1 alpha was inhibited using specific siRNA, and activated after overexpression with HIF-1 alpha cDNA. Data are mean / SEM.