Assessing Hypoxia Tolerance using Rapid Colorimetric Testing of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1)

Abstract

The body reacts by producing a protein called hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), which triggers a series of physiological changes and serves a central role in the hypoxia response. Its activity is regulated by the oxygen-dependent degradation of the HIF-1α protein (HIF-1A gene). Therefore, the effects of low oxygen tension in hypoxia were explored using rapid and colorimetric tests. The development of the sensor provided more sensitivity for detecting hypoxia by generating a calibration of optimized parameters such as reagent concentrations, reagent volumes, and device dimensions.  There is a high sensitivity and specificity in detecting the changes of HIF-1α protein hypoxia using the feasibility hypoxia test. This would enable point-of-care (POC) testing and individual self-administration, resulting in faster and more accurate results that can be used for a robust diagnostic approach and enhanced health surveillance.