mRNA analysis: RNA was extracted using peqGOLD total RNA kit (Peqlab, Erlangen, Germany) or Direct-Zol RNA kit (Zymo Research, Irvine, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and reverse transcribed using QuantiTect Reverse Transcription Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). For quantitative PCR, Brilliant II Sybr Green kit (Statagene/Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA), including specific MX3005P 96-well semi-skirted plates, were used to analyse samples on the MX3005P qPCR platform (Stratagene/Agilent). Actin was used as a normalising agent in all experiments. qPCR results were analysed by the ΔΔCt method. Control normoxia or hypoxia were used as calibrators in the different experiments, and set to 100.