Giardia duodenalis stabilizes HIF-1α and induces glycolytic alterations in intestinal epithelial cells.

ABSTRACT: The gastrointestinal epithelium relies on activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) to promote cell survival and maintain bioenergetic homeostasis during hypoxia. While many pathogens can activate HIF, the effects of enteric protozoa on HIF activation in gastrointestinal epithelial cells remain unclear. Giardia duodenalis, a prevalent protozoan enteropathogen, causes intestinal barrier dysfunction characterized by epithelial malabsorption, mucus depletion, altered mucin glycosylation, and microbiota dysbiosis. Findings from the present study reveal an epithelial hypoxic signature upon Giardia infection. Human intestinal epithelial cells were exposed to vehicle or Giardia duodenalis isolate GS/M under normoxic (21% O₂) or hypoxic (1% O₂) conditions. In normoxia,

SUBMITTER: DeMichele E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12328747 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature