Hypoxia increases adipogenesis and affects adipocytokine production in orbital fibroblasts-a possible explanation of the link between smoking and Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Abstract

Hypoxia induces adipogenesis in OF and may represent a mechanism by which smoking contributes to deterioration of GO. We also found novel changes to leptin and MCP-1 production in OF cultures exposed to hypoxia suggesting important roles of these cytokines in the disease process.