The effect of baseline O2 conditions on the response of prostate cancer cells to hypoxia

Abstract

Although human cell culture models have been instrumental to our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the cellular response to hypoxia, in virtually all experiments, cells are routinely cultured in near-atmospheric (∼18% O2) oxygen levels, which are hyperoxic relative to physiological conditions in vivo. Here, we show for the first time that cells cultured in physiological O2 levels (5% O2) respond differently to subsequent hypoxia than cells grown at 18%.