Hypoxia is a feature of several pathological but also non-pathological areas. Hypoxia can be defined as a state where oxygen availability to cells, tissues or organs is decreased as compared to the physiological situation. But also physiological oxygen concentrations vary among the body compartments. Immune cells patrolling the whole body therefore face different oxygen levels and have to adapt properly in order to fulfil their functions. Moreover, the variety of different oxygen levels in primary and secondary lymphoid organs as well as in the tissue of immune action influence immune cell function, specification and fate.

Disclosure of Interest None declared

DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.6344