Hypoxia induced expression of histone lysine demethylases: Implications in oxygen-dependent retinal neovascular diseases

► HIF pathway plays vital role in neovascularization in cancer and retinal diseases. ► Hypoxia induces expression of histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) in a retinal cell. ► The expression of pro-angiogenic genes is dependent on KDMs under hypoxic conditions. ► Treating cells with a KDM inhibitor blocks the expression of pro-angiogenic genes. ► Specific inhibitors of KDMs can be used to treat hypoxia induced neovascularization.