Hypoxia-based Stem/Progenitor Cell Therapy: Focus on CXCR4/SDF-1 Axis

Cell therapy is becoming a promising approach to treat degenerative diseases. Homing of the transplanted cells is one of the continuous challenges being faced by the stem cell biologists. Chemokine receptors are one of the highly studied factors which are known to be crucial in controlling the cell/stem cell migration and targeted homing to the damaged tissues. The expression of chemokine receptors is dependent on a number of transcription factors and HIF-1α has been considered the crucial molecules controlling cellular migration and homing. Several studies have revealed that hypoxia conditions stabilize the HIF-1α which upregulate the CXCR4/SDF-1 expression and help in the improvement of tissue regeneration. Here, we review pivotal roles of HIF-1α /CXCR4/SDF-1 pathway in homing of progenitor/Stem cell which were affected by physical hypoxia as well as various hypoxia-mimicking agents.