Cell injury and adaptation: hypoxic injury and HIF-1: practice question

A Pathology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pathology · Cell injury and adaptation: hypoxic injury and HIF-1

Sample item

A tumour cell in a poorly vascularised region survives on anaerobic glycolysis and stimulates new vessel growth. Which transcription factor, stabilised under low oxygen, drives this response?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1

Under normal oxygen, HIF-1 alpha is hydroxylated and degraded through the VHL pathway. In hypoxia it escapes degradation and switches on genes for glycolytic enzymes, VEGF and erythropoietin, helping the cell adapt to low oxygen.

Option by option

  • A. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (correct)

    Correct. HIF-1 is stabilised by hypoxia and induces glycolysis and VEGF.

  • B. Nuclear factor kappa B

    NF-kappa B is mainly activated by inflammatory cytokines and microbial products.

  • C. Tumour protein 53

    p53 responds to DNA damage by arresting the cycle or triggering apoptosis.

  • D. Signal transducer STAT1

    STAT1 mediates interferon signalling and is not the oxygen-sensing factor.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pathology question

What is the answer to this Pathology question?

The best answer is A, Hypoxia-inducible factor 1. Under normal oxygen, HIF-1 alpha is hydroxylated and degraded through the VHL pathway.

Why is "Nuclear factor kappa B" not the answer?

NF-kappa B is mainly activated by inflammatory cytokines and microbial products.

Why is "Tumour protein 53" not the answer?

p53 responds to DNA damage by arresting the cycle or triggering apoptosis.

Why is "Signal transducer STAT1" not the answer?

STAT1 mediates interferon signalling and is not the oxygen-sensing factor.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cell injury and adaptation: hypoxic injury and HIF-1 in Pathology. In hypoxia it escapes degradation and switches on genes for glycolytic enzymes, VEGF and erythropoietin, helping the cell adapt to low oxygen.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Cell injury and adaptation: hypoxic injury and HIF-1?

Learn each disease as a bundle: cause, key histology, markers, and the clinical hallmark. Then use the flashcards and the other Pathology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.