Overexpression of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: The Link Between Deviated Immunity and Metabolism

The study investigated the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in the pathogenesis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and its relation to disease severity. It included 20 patients with HS and 20 healthy volunteers as controls. The researchers measured HIF-1α expression in skin biopsies and serum levels using immunohistochemical staining, quantitative reverse transcription real-time PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed increased serum levels of HIF-1α in HS patients. The study suggests that HIF-1α is involved in the inflammatory process of HS, similar to its role in psoriasis, and is influenced by factors like obesity and smoking. It also indicates that HIF-1α is crucial for keratinocyte proliferation in the anagen hair follicle. Treatments that reduce HIF-1α expression, such as metformin and adalimumab, could be effective for HS by targeting the link between Th17-driven immunity and keratinocyte hyperproliferation. This study positions HS as an HIF-1α-driven inflammatory skin disease and proposes new prevention and treatment strategies by focusing on HIF-1α overexpression.