Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) 3α prevents COPD by inhibiting alveolar epithelial cell ferroptosis via the HIF-3α-GPx4 axis

COPD patients are largely asymptomatic until the late stages when prognosis is generally poor. In this study, we shifted the focus to pre-COPD and smoking stages, and found enrichment of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-3α is in pre-COPD samples. Smoking induced regional tissue hypoxia and emphysema have been found in COPD patients. However, the mechanisms underlying hypoxia especially HIF-3α and COPD have not been investigated.