Hypoxia-Dependent HIF-1 Activation Impacts on Tissue Remodeling in Graves' Ophthalmopathy-Implications for Smoking.

Context: In Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO), inflammation with tissue expansion in a closed compartment like the bony orbit and smoking may cause tissue hypoxia.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated whether hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) action impacts on tissue remodeling in GO with the aim to identify possible new therapeutic targets.

Design/setting/participants: Orbital fibroblasts (OFs) were derived from GO patients and control (Ctrl) persons.