Inhibition of oxygen sensors as a therapeutic strategy for ischaemic and inflammatory disease

The recent discovery of a new family of oxygen sensors — including prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing proteins 1–3 (PHD1–3) — has provided novel insights into how cells sense oxygen and keep oxygen supply and consumption in balance. This review describes how advances in understanding of the role of these oxygen sensors in hypoxia tolerance, ischaemic preconditioning and inflammation are creating new opportunities for pharmacological interventions in ischaemic and inflammatory diseases.