Oxygen-regulated and transactivating domains in endothelial PAS protein 1: comparison with hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha

Hypoxic induction of the regulator of G-protein signalling 4 gene is mediated by the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway

The transcriptional response to hypoxia is largely dependent on the Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIF-1 and HIF-2) in mammalian cells. Many target genes have been characterised for these heterodimeric transcription factors, yet there is evidence that the full range of HIF-regulated genes has not yet been described. We constructed a TetON overexpression system in the rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cell line to search for novel HIF and hypoxia responsive genes. The Rgs4 gene encodes the Regulator of G-Protein Signalling 4 (RGS4) protein, an inhibitor of signalling from G-protein coupled receptors, and dysregulation of Rgs4 is linked to disease states such as schizophrenia and cardiomyopathy. Rgs4 was found to be responsive to HIF-2α overexpression, hypoxic treatment, and hypoxia mimetic drugs in PC-12 cells. Similar responses were observed in human neuroblastoma cell lines SK-N-SH and SK-N-BE(2)C, but not in endothelial cells, where Rgs4 transcript is readily detected but does not respond to hypoxia. Furthermore, this regulation was found to be dependent on transcription, and occurs in a manner consistent with direct HIF transactivation of Rgs4 transcription. However, no HIF binding site was detectable within 32 kb of the human Rgs4 gene locus, leading to the possibility of regulation by long-distance genomic interactions. Further research into Rgs4 regulation by hypoxia and HIF may result in better understanding of disease states such as schizophrenia, and also shed light on the other roles of HIF yet to be discovered.

The updated biology of hypoxia-inducible factor

Oxygen is essential for eukaryotic life and is inextricably linked to the evolution of multicellular organisms. Proper cellular response to changes in oxygen tension during normal development or pathological processes, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, is ultimately regulated by the transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). Over the past decade, unprecedented molecular insight has been gained into the mammalian oxygen-sensing pathway involving the canonical oxygen-dependent prolyl-hydroxylase domain-containing enzyme (PHD)-von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor protein (pVHL) axis and its connection to cellular metabolism. Here we review recent notable advances in the field of hypoxia that have shaped a more complex model of HIF regulation and revealed unique roles of HIF in a diverse range of biological processes, including immunity, development and stem cell biology.

Post-cardiac arrest syndrome: Mechanisms and evaluation of adrenal insufficiency

Cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death and represents maximal stress in humans. After restoration of spontaneous circulation, post-cardiac arrest syndrome is the predominant disorder in survivors. Besides the post-arrest brain injury, the post-resuscitation myocardial stunning, and the systemic ischemia/reperfusion response, this syndrome is characterized by adrenal insufficiency, a disorder that often remains undiagnosed. The pathophysiology of adrenal insufficiency has not been elucidated. We performed a comprehensive search of three medical databases in order to describe the major pathophysiological disturbances which are responsible for the occurrence of the disorder. Based on the available evidence, this article will help physicians to better evaluate and understand the hidden yet deadly post-cardiac arrest adrenal insufficiency.

Factor inhibiting HIF (FIH) recognizes distinct molecular features within hypoxia-inducible factor-α (HIF-α) versus ankyrin repeat substrates

Factor Inhibiting HIF (FIH) catalyzes the β-hydroxylation of asparagine residues in HIF-α transcription factors as well as ankyrin repeat domain (ARD) proteins such as Notch and Gankyrin. Although FIH-mediated hydroxylation of HIF-α is well characterized, ARDs were only recently identified as substrates, and less is known about their recognition and hydroxylation by FIH. We investigated the molecular determinants of FIH substrate recognition, with a focus on differences between HIF and ARD substrates. We show that for ARD proteins, structural context is an important determinant of FIH-recognition, but analyses of chimeric substrate proteins indicate that the ankyrin fold alone is not sufficient to explain the distinct substrate properties of the ARDs compared with HIF. For both substrates the kinetic parameters of hydroxylation are influenced by the amino acids proximal to the target asparagine. Although FIH tolerates a variety of chemically disparate residues proximal to the asparagine, we demonstrate that certain combinations of amino acids are not permissive to hydroxylation. Finally, we characterize a conserved RLL motif in HIF and demonstrate that it mediates a high affinity interaction with FIH in the presence of cell lysate or macromolecular crowding agents. Collectively, our data highlight the importance of residues proximal to the asparagine in determining hydroxylation, and identify additional substrate-specific elements that contribute to distinct properties of HIF and ARD proteins as substrates for FIH. These distinct features are likely to influence FIH substrate choice in vivo and, therefore, have important consequences for HIF regulation.

Hypoxia increases sirtuin 1 expression in a hypoxia-inducible factor-dependent manner

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are stress-responsive transcriptional regulators of cellular and physiological processes involved in oxygen metabolism. Although much is understood about the molecular machinery that confers HIF responsiveness to oxygen, far less is known about HIF isoform-specific mechanisms of regulation, despite the fact that HIF-1 and HIF-2 exhibit distinct biological roles. We recently determined that the stress-responsive genetic regulator sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) selectively augments HIF-2 signaling during hypoxia. However, the mechanism by which Sirt1 maintains activity during hypoxia is unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that Sirt1 gene expression increases in a HIF-dependent manner during hypoxia in Hep3B and in HT1080 cells. Impairment of HIF signaling affects Sirt1 deacetylase activity as decreased HIF-1 signaling results in the appearance of acetylated HIF-2α, which is detected without pharmacological inhibition of Sirt1. We also find that Sirt1 augments HIF-2 mediated, but not HIF-1 mediated, transcriptional activation of the isolated Sirt1 promoter. These data in summary reveal a bidirectional link of HIF and Sirt1 signaling during hypoxia.

Hypoxia activates constitutive luciferase reporter constructs

Hypoxia has been identified as a contributing factor in the pathophysiology of several diseases and oxygen regulation is important during stem cell development, particularly in early embryogenesis. One aspect that has emerged is the role of hypoxia-inducible factors, or HIFs in regulating the effect of hypoxia. Studies in our laboratory sought to examine the hypoxic regulation of HIF activity in placental trophoblast cells, through the use of dual-reporter luciferase assays. Our study demonstrates that hypoxic conditions cause a significant increase in the level of constitutive luciferase reporter activity. We also show that this induction is not a cell type or species-specific phenomenon and provides an alternative method for normalizing transfection efficiency in luciferase assays under hypoxic conditions. Our results suggest that in studies dealing with hypoxic conditions, caution should be used when interpreting measurements of transcriptional activity by traditional dual-reporter assays.

Anti-apoptotic role of HIF-1 and AP-1 in paclitaxel exposed breast cancer cells under hypoxia

Background

Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid tumors and is associated with metastases, therapeutic resistance and poor patient survival.

Results

In this study, we showed that hypoxia protected MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells against paclitaxel- but not epirubicin-induced apoptosis. The possible implication of HIF-1 and AP-1 in the hypoxia-induced anti-apoptotic pathway was investigated by the use of specific siRNA. Specific inhibition of the expression of these two transcription factors was shown to increase apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic agents under hypoxia indicating an involvement of HIF-1 and AP-1 in the anti-apoptotic effect of hypoxia. After HIF-1 specific inhibition and using TaqMan Human Apoptosis Array, 8 potential HIF-1 target genes were identified which could take part in this protection. Furthermore, Mcl-1 was shown to be a potential AP-1 target gene which could also participate to the hypoxia-induced chemoresistance.

Conclusions

Altogether, these data highlight two mechanisms by which hypoxia could mediate its protective role via the activation of two transcription factors and, consecutively, changes in gene expression encoding different anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins.

Transcriptional regulation of endochondral ossification by HIF-2alpha during skeletal growth and osteoarthritis development

Chondrocyte hypertrophy followed by cartilage matrix degradation and vascular invasion, characterized by expression of type X collagen (COL10A1), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), respectively, are central steps of endochondral ossification during normal skeletal growth and osteoarthritis development. A COL10A1 promoter assay identified hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF-2alpha, encoded by EPAS1) as the most potent transactivator of COL10A1. HIF-2alpha enhanced promoter activities of COL10A1, MMP13 and VEGFA through specific binding to the respective hypoxia-responsive elements. HIF-2alpha, independently of oxygen-dependent hydroxylation, was essential for endochondral ossification of cultured chondrocytes and embryonic skeletal growth in mice. HIF-2alpha expression was higher in osteoarthritic cartilages versus nondiseased cartilages of mice and humans. Epas1-heterozygous deficient mice showed resistance to osteoarthritis development, and a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the human EPAS1 gene was associated with knee osteoarthritis in a Japanese population. The EPAS1 promoter assay identified RELA, a nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) family member, as a potent inducer of HIF-2alpha expression. Hence, HIF-2alpha is a central transactivator that targets several crucial genes for endochondral ossification and may represent a therapeutic target for osteoarthritis.

Iron homeostasis and its interaction with prolyl hydroxylases

The ability of iron to accept or donate electrons, coupled with the ability of oxygen to act as an electron acceptor, renders both elements essential to normal cellular biology. However, these same chemical properties allow free iron in solution to generate toxic free radicals, particularly in combination with oxygen. Thus, closely interwoven homeostatic mechanisms have evolved to regulate both iron and oxygen concentrations at the systemic and the cellular levels. Systemically, iron levels are regulated through hepcidin-mediated uptake of iron in the duodenum, whereas intracellular free-iron levels are controlled through iron-regulatory proteins (IRPs). Cardiorespiratory changes increase systemic oxygen delivery, whereas at a cellular level, many responses to altered oxygen levels are coordinated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). However, the mechanisms of iron homeostasis also are regulated by oxygen availability, with alterations in both hepcidin and IRP activity. In addition, many genes involved in iron homeostasis are direct targets of HIF. Furthermore, HIF activation is modulated by intracellular iron, through regulation of hydroxylase activity, which requires iron as a cofactor. In addition, HIF-2alpha translation is controlled by IRP activity, providing another level of interdependence between iron and oxygen homeostasis.

Hypoxia-inducible factors: post-translational crosstalk of signaling pathways

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) has a central role in the mammalian program by which cells respond to hypoxia in both physiological and pathological situations. HIF-1 transcriptional activity, protein stabilization, protein-protein interaction, and cellular localization are mainly modulated by Post-translational modifications such as hydroxylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, S-nitrosylation, and SUMOylation. Here, we summarize current knowledge about Post-translational HIF-1 regulation and give additional information about useful methods to determine some of these various modifications.

The lysyl oxidases LOX and LOXL2 are necessary and sufficient to repress E-cadherin in hypoxia: insights into cellular transformation processes mediated by HIF-1

Hypoxia has been shown to promote tumor metastasis and lead to therapy resistance. Recent work has demonstrated that hypoxia represses E-cadherin expression, a hallmark of epithelial to mesenchymal transition, which is believed to amplify tumor aggressiveness. The molecular mechanism of E-cadherin repression is unknown, yet lysyl oxidases have been implicated to be involved. Gene expression of lysyl oxidase (LOX) and the related LOX-like 2 (LOXL2) is strongly induced by hypoxia. In addition to the previously demonstrated LOX, we characterize LOXL2 as a direct transcriptional target of HIF-1. We demonstrate that activation of lysyl oxidases is required and sufficient for hypoxic repression of E-cadherin, which mediates cellular transformation and takes effect in cellular invasion assays. Our data support a molecular pathway from hypoxia to cellular transformation. It includes up-regulation of HIF and subsequent transcriptional induction of LOX and LOXL2, which repress E-cadherin and induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Lysyl oxidases could be an attractive molecular target for cancers of epithelial origin, in particular because they are partly extracellular.

Mitochondrial regulation of cell survival and death during low-oxygen conditions

Mitochondria can initiate cell death or activate genes that promote cell survival in response to low oxygen. The BCL-2 family of proteins regulate cell death in response to anoxia (0-0.5% O2). By contrast, under hypoxia (0.5-3% O2), mitochondrial oxidative stress activates hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) to promote cell survival. In this review, we discuss how mitochondria, BCL-2 proteins, and HIFs are crucial for cellular responses to low oxygen.

PTEN suppression of YY1 induces HIF-2 activity in von-Hippel-Lindau-null renal-cell carcinoma

Despite recent advances in cancer therapies, metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains difficult to treat. Most RCCs result from inactivation of the von Hippel Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor, leading to stable expression of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-alpha (HIF-1alpha, -2alpha, -3alpha) and the induction of downstream target genes, including those responsible for angiogenesis and metastasis. While VHL is inactivated in the majority of RCC cases, expression of the PTEN tumor suppressor is reduced in about 30% of cases. PTEN functions to antagonize PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, thereby controlling cell growth and survival. Activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR leads to increased HIF-1alpha expression in certain cancer cells, supporting the rationale of using mTOR inhibitors as anti-cancer agents. Notably, HIF-2alpha, rather than HIF-1alpha, has been shown to play a critical role in renal tumorigenesis. To investigate whether HIF-2alpha is similarly regulated by the PI3K pathway in VHL(-/-)RCC cells, we manipulated PI3K signaling using PTEN overexpression and siRNA knockdown studies and pharmacologic inhibition of PI3K or Akt. Our data support a novel role for wild-type PTEN in promoting HIF-2alpha activity in VHL null RCC cells. This mechanism is unique to the cellular environment in which HIF-2alpha expression is deregulated, resulting from the loss of VHL function. Our data show that PTEN induces HIF-2alpha transcriptional activity by inhibiting expression of Yin Yang 1 (YY1), which acts as a novel corepressor of HIF-2alpha. Further, PTEN suppression of YY1 is mediated through antagonism of PI3K signaling. We conclude that wild-type PTEN relieves the repressive nature of YY1 at certain HIF-2alpha target promoters and that this mechanism may promote early renal tumorigenesis resulting from VHL inactivation by increasing HIF-2alpha activity.

Regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 2alpha signaling by the stress-responsive deacetylase sirtuin 1

To survive in hostile environments, organisms activate stress-responsive transcriptional regulators that coordinately increase production of protective factors. Hypoxia changes cellular metabolism and thus activates redox-sensitive as well as oxygen-dependent signal transducers. We demonstrate that Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), a redox-sensing deacetylase, selectively stimulates activity of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF-2alpha) during hypoxia. The effect of Sirt1 on HIF-2alpha required direct interaction of the proteins and intact deacetylase activity of Sirt1. Select lysine residues in HIF-2alpha that are acetylated during hypoxia confer repression of Sirt1 augmentation by small-molecule inhibitors. In cultured cells and mice, decreasing or increasing Sirt1 activity or levels affected expression of the HIF-2alpha target gene erythropoietin accordingly. Thus, Sirt1 promotes HIF-2 signaling during hypoxia and likely other environmental stresses.

Hypoxia. Hypoxia in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis

Autoimmunity, microangiopathy and tissue fibrosis are hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Vascular alterations and reduced capillary density decrease blood flow and impair tissue oxygenation in SSc. Oxygen supply is further reduced by accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), which increases diffusion distances from blood vessels to cells. Therefore, severe hypoxia is a characteristic feature of SSc and might contribute directly to the progression of the disease. Hypoxia stimulates the production of ECM proteins by SSc fibroblasts in a transforming growth factor-β-dependent manner. The induction of ECM proteins by hypoxia is mediated via hypoxia-inducible factor-1α-dependent and -independent pathways. Hypoxia may also aggravate vascular disease in SSc by perturbing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor signalling. Hypoxia is a potent inducer of VEGF and may cause chronic VEGF over-expression in SSc. Uncontrolled over-expression of VEGF has been shown to have deleterious effects on angiogenesis because it leads to the formation of chaotic vessels with decreased blood flow. Altogether, hypoxia might play a central role in pathogenesis of SSc by augmenting vascular disease and tissue fibrosis.

Cited2 modulates hypoxia-inducible factor-dependent expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in nucleus pulposus cells of the rat intervertebral disc

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether nucleus pulposus cells of the intervertebral disc express hypoxia-inducible factor 2alpha (HIF-2alpha), and to assess the role of HIF-1 and HIF-2 in controlling cited2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression.

METHODS

Rat cells were cultured under normoxic (21% O2) or hypoxic (2% O2) conditions, and expression and promoter activity of HIF-2 target genes were evaluated. Gain- or loss-of-function experiments were performed to investigate the contribution of HIF isoforms to cited2 activity as well as the role of cited2 in regulating VEGF expression.

RESULTS

We found that HIF-2alpha protein was expressed in vivo and that protein and messenger RNA expression were similar under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. However, there was a significant increase in HIF-2alpha transactivation under hypoxic conditions. With respect to functional activity, unlike the case in most other tissues, HIF-2 failed to increase the transcriptional activities of superoxide dismutase 2 and frataxin, 2 common target genes involved in radical dismutation. However, under hypoxic conditions, HIF-2 preferentially regulated the expression and promoter activity of cited2, a p300 binding protein. When HIF-2alpha or HIF-1alpha was suppressed, cited2 promoter activity was inhibited. Finally, we showed that forced expression or suppression of cited2 resulted in corresponding changes in expression of VEGF, a common target gene for HIF-1 and HIF-2 in the nucleus pulposus cells.

CONCLUSION

Results of this study indicate that in nucleus pulposus cells, HIF-2 and HIF-1 modulate their own transcriptional activity through cited2. We suggest that the 2 arms of the regulatory circuit serve to maintain survival activities and inhibit angiogenesis in the healthy disc.

Transcriptional regulation during development of the ductus arteriosus

The ductus arteriosus is a specialized blood vessel containing highly differentiated and contractile vascular smooth muscle, derived largely from neural crest cells, that is essential for fetal life but typically closes after birth. Impaired development of the ductus arteriosus or disruption of signaling pathways that initiate postnatal closure can result in persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus, the third most common congenital heart defect. We found that Tfap2beta, a transcription factor associated with patent ductus arteriosus in humans, was uniquely expressed in mouse ductal smooth muscle. Endothelin-1 and the hypoxia-induced transcription factor, Hif2alpha were also highly enriched in ductal smooth muscle at embryonic day 13.5 and were dependent on Tfap2beta for their expression in this domain. Hif2alpha functioned as a negative regulator of Tfap2beta-induced transcription by disrupting protein-DNA interactions, suggesting a negative feedback loop regulating Tfap2beta activity. Our data indicate that Tfap2beta, Et-1, and Hif2alpha act in a transcriptional network during ductal smooth muscle development and that disruption of this pathway may contribute to patent ductus arteriosus by affecting the development of smooth muscle within the ductus arteriosus.

CUL2 is required for the activity of hypoxia-inducible factor and vasculogenesis

CULLIN 2 (CUL2) is a component of the ElonginB/C-CUL2-RBX-1-Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor complex that ubiquitinates and degrades hypoxia-inducible factor alpha (HIFalpha). HIFalpha is a transcription factor that mediates the expression of hypoxia-sensitive genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which in turn regulates vasculogenesis. Whereas CUL2 participates in the degradation of HIFalpha, the potential role of CUL2 in the regulation of other cellular processes is less well established. In the present study, suppression of CUL2 expression by Cul2 siRNA inhibited HIFalpha transcriptional activation of the VEGF gene in vitro, indicating that CUL2 plays a role distinct from its known function in HIFalpha degradation. Because ARNT heterodimerizes with HIFalpha, we assessed whether CUL2 influenced ARNT expression. Cul2 siRNA inhibited the expression of endogenous ARNT. Ectopically expressed ARNT reversed the inhibition of HIF activity by Cul2 siRNA in the VEGF promoter, suggesting that CUL2 regulates HIF activation through ARNT. In 786-O cells lacking VHL, Cul2 siRNA suppressed the expression of both ARNT and VEGF, indicating that CUL2 regulates HIF activity independently of VHL. In transgenic zebrafish expressing GFP driven by the Flk promoter (a known HIF target), zCul2 morpholino blocked embryonic vasculogenesis in a manner similar to that caused by inhibition of VEGF-A. In the zebrafish embryos, zCul2 inhibited the expression of CUL2, VEGF, and Flk-GFP protein, indicating that CUL2 is required for expression of other vasculogenic HIF targets. Taken together, CUL2 is required for normal vasculogenesis, at least in part mediated by its regulation of HIF-mediated transcription.

Cellular oxygen sensing in health and disease

To avoid localised problems resulting from excess or inadequate oxygen, all cells and tissues have the ability to sense and respond to changes in oxygen levels. Despite their rich blood supply, the kidneys have unique properties with respect to oxygen that enable them to act as specialised organs, sensing oxygen delivery as well as rendering them prone to hypoxic injury. Essential to normal growth and development, as well as the control of energy metabolism, angiogenesis and erythropoiesis, cellular oxygen homoeostasis is central to the pathophysiology of anaemia, ischaemia, inflammation and cancer, both within the kidney and more generally. A major transcriptional pathway, predominantly regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), controls many hundreds of genes, either directly or indirectly, that serve to modulate both the supply and consumption of oxygen. Recent advances have illuminated the mechanisms underlying the regulation of HIF by oxygen and have defined novel therapeutic targets. The challenge now is for us to understand the complexities generated by multiple isoforms of the various components of oxygen sensing, the identification of additional levels of control, and the tissue specific responses to activation of the HIF pathway.

Biology of hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha in development and disease

The transcriptional response to hypoxia is primarily mediated by two hypoxia-inducible factors--HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha. While these proteins are highly homologous, increasing evidence suggests they have unique transcriptional targets and differential impact on tumor growth. Furthermore, non-transcriptional effects of the HIF-alpha subunits, including effects on the Notch and c-Myc pathways, contribute to their distinct functions. HIF-2alpha transcriptional targets include genes involved in erythropoiesis, angiogenesis, metastasis, and proliferation. Therefore, HIF-2alpha contributes significantly to both normal physiology as well as tumorigenesis. Here, we summarize the function of HIF-2alpha during development as well as its contribution to pathologic conditions, such as tumors and vascular disease.

Mechanisms of adaptive angiogenesis to tissue hypoxia

Angiogenesis is mostly an adaptive response to tissue hypoxia, which occurs under a wide variety of situations ranging from embryonic development to tumor growth. In general, angiogenesis is dependent on the accumulation of hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs), which are heterodimeric transcription factors of alpha and beta subunits. Under normoxia, HIF heterodimers are not abundantly present due to oxygen dependent hydroxylation, polyubiquitination, and proteasomal degradation of alpha subunits. Under hypoxia, however, alpha subunits are stabilized and form heterodimers with HIF-1beta which is not subject to oxygen dependent regulation. The accumulation of HIFs under hypoxia allows them to activate the expression of many angiogenic genes and therefore initiates the angiogenic process. In recent years, however, it has become clear that various other mechanisms also participate in fine tuning angiogenesis. In this review, I discuss the relationship between hypoxia and angiogenesis under five topics: (1) regulation of HIF-alpha abundance and activity by oxygen tension and other conditions including oxygen independent mechanisms; (2) hypoxia-regulated expression of angiogenic molecules by HIFs and other transcription factors; (3) responses of vascular cells to hypoxia; (4) angiogenic phenotypes due to altered HIF signaling in mice; and (5) role of the HIF pathway in pathological angiogenesis. Studies discussed under these topics clearly indicate that while mechanisms of oxygen-regulated HIF-alpha stability provide exciting opportunities for the development of angiogenesis or anti-angiogenesis therapies, it is also highly important to consider various other mechanisms for the optimization of these procedures.

Targeting the mitochondria for cancer therapy: regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor by mitochondria

As tumors develop, they outgrow the vascular network that supplies cells with oxygen and nutrients needed for survival. In response to decreased oxygen levels, the tumor cells initiate a program of adaptation by inducing the transcription of multiple genes via the activation of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). Proteins encoded by a subset of genes induced by HIF promote tumorigenesis by acting directly on both the tumor cells and the microenvironment in which the tumor cells reside. The mechanism(s) by which hypoxia activates HIF is a subject of intensive research. Understanding how hypoxia activates HIF will provide targets for the development of therapies that could specifically target growing tumors by not allowing adequate adaptation to hypoxia, which is necessary for cancer progression. Here we outline how mitochondria regulate the activity of HIF during hypoxia.

Turn me on: regulating HIF transcriptional activity

The hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are critical for cellular adaptation to limiting oxygen and regulate a wide array of genes when cued by cellular oxygen-sensing mechanisms. HIF is able to direct transcription from either of two transactivation domains, each of which is regulated by distinct mechanisms. The oxygen-dependent asparaginyl hydroxylase factor-inhibiting HIF-1alpha (FIH-1) is a key regulator of the HIF C-terminal transactivation domain, and provides a direct link between oxygen sensation and HIF-mediated transcription. Additionally, there are phosphorylation and nitrosylation events reported to modulate HIF transcriptional activity, as well as numerous transcriptional coactivators and other interacting proteins that together provide cell and tissue specificity of HIF target gene regulation.

Regulation of adult erythropoiesis by prolyl hydroxylase domain proteins

Polycythemia is often associated with erythropoietin (EPO) overexpression and defective oxygen sensing. In normal cells, intracellular oxygen concentrations are directly sensed by prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD)-containing proteins, which tag hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) alpha subunits for polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation by oxygen-dependent prolyl hydroxylation. Here we show that different PHD isoforms differentially regulate HIF-alpha stability in the adult liver and kidney and suppress Epo expression and erythropoiesis through distinct mechanisms. Although Phd1(-/-) or Phd3(-/-) mice had no apparent defects, double knockout of Phd1 and Phd3 led to moderate erythrocytosis. HIF-2alpha, which is known to activate Epo expression, accumulated in the liver. In adult mice deficient for PHD2, the prototypic Epo transcriptional activator HIF-1alpha accumulated in both the kidney and liver. Elevated HIF-1alpha levels were associated with dramatically increased concentrations of both Epo mRNA in the kidney and Epo protein in the serum, which led to severe erythrocytosis. In contrast, heterozygous mutation of Phd2 had no detectable effects on blood homeostasis. These findings suggest that PHD1/3 double deficiency leads to erythrocytosis partly by activating the hepatic HIF-2alpha/Epo pathway, whereas PHD2 deficiency leads to erythrocytosis by activating the renal Epo pathway.

Mitochondrial oxygen sensing: regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor by mitochondrial generated reactive oxygen species

Decreased oxygen availability (hypoxia) promotes physiological processes such as energy metabolism, angiogenesis, cell proliferation and cell viability through the transcription factor HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor). Activation of HIF can also promote pathophysiological processes such as cancer and pulmonary hypertension. The mechanism(s) by which hypoxia activates HIF are the subject of intensive research. In this chapter we outline the model in which mitochondria regulate the stability of HIF through the increased production of ROS (reactive oxygen species) during hypoxia.

The N-terminal transactivation domain confers target gene specificity of hypoxia-inducible factors HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha

The basic helix-loop-helix-Per-ARNT-Sim-proteins hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and HIF-2alpha are the principal regulators of the hypoxic transcriptional response. Although highly related, they can activate distinct target genes. In this study, the protein domain and molecular mechanism important for HIF target gene specificity are determined. We demonstrate that although HIF-2alpha is unable to activate multiple endogenous HIF-1alpha-specific target genes (e.g., glycolytic enzymes), HIF-2alpha still binds to their promoters in vivo and activates reporter genes derived from such targets. In addition, comparative analysis of the N-terminal DNA binding and dimerization domains of HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha does not reveal any significant differences between the two proteins. Importantly, replacement of the N-terminal transactivation domain (N-TAD) (but not the DNA binding domain, dimerization domain, or C-terminal transactivation domain [C-TAD]) of HIF-2alpha with the analogous region of HIF-1alpha is sufficient to convert HIF-2alpha into a protein with HIF-1alpha functional specificity. Nevertheless, both the N-TAD and C-TAD are important for optimal HIF transcriptional activity. Additional experiments indicate that the ETS transcription factor ELK is required for HIF-2alpha to activate specific target genes such as Cited-2, EPO, and PAI-1. These results demonstrate that the HIF-alpha TADs, particularly the N-TADs, confer HIF target gene specificity, by interacting with additional transcriptional cofactors.

Kidney development and gene expression in the HIF2alpha knockout mouse

The hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-2 (HIF2), a heterodimer composed of HIF2alpha and HIF1beta subunits, drives expression of genes essential for vascularization, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2, Flk-1). Here, we used a HIF2alpha/LacZ transgenic mouse to define patterns of HIF2alpha transcription during kidney development and maturation. Our results from embryonic heterozygotes showed HIF2alpha/LacZ expression by apparently all renal endothelial cells. At 4 weeks of age, glomerular mesangial and vascular smooth muscle cells were also positive together with endothelial cells. These expression patterns were confirmed by electron microscopy using Bluo-gal as a beta-galactosidase substrate. Small numbers of glomerular and tubular epithelial cells were also positive at all stages examined. Light and electron microscopic examination of kidneys from HIF2alpha null embryos showed no defects in renal vascular development or nephrogenesis. Similarly, the same amounts of Flk-1 protein were seen on Western blots of kidney extracts from homozygous and heterozygous HIF2alpha mutants. To examine responsiveness of HIF2alpha null kidneys to hypoxia, embryonic day 13.5 metanephroi were cultured in room air or in mild (5% O(2)) hypoxia. For both heterozygous and null samples, VEGF mRNA levels doubled when metanephroi were cultured in mild hypoxia. Anterior chamber grafts of embryonic HIF2alpha knockouts were morphologically indistinguishable from heterozygous grafts. Endothelial markers, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule and BsLB4, as well as glomerular epithelial markers, GLEPP1 and WT-1, were all expressed appropriately. Finally, we undertook quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of kidneys from HIF2alpha null embryos and wild-type siblings and found no compensatory up-regulation of HIF1alpha or -3alpha. Our results show that, although HIF2alpha was widely transcribed by kidney endothelium and vascular smooth muscle, knockouts displayed no detectable deficits in vessel development or VEGF or Flk-1 expression.

HIF-2alpha specifically activates the VE-cadherin promoter independently of hypoxia and in synergy with Ets-1 through two essential ETS-binding sites

The mechanisms that are responsible for the restricted pattern of expression of the VE-cadherin gene in endothelial cells are not clearly understood. Regulation of expression is under the control of an approximately 140 bp proximal promoter that provides basal, non-endothelial specific expression. A larger region contained within the 2.5 kb genomic DNA sequence located ahead of the transcription start is involved in the specific expression of the gene in endothelial cells. We show here that the VE-cadherin promoter contains several putative hypoxia response elements (HRE) which are able to bind endothelial nuclear factors under normoxia. The VE-cadherin gene is not responsive to hypoxia but hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2alpha specifically activates the promoter while HIF-1alpha does not. The HRE, that are involved in this activity have been identified. Further, we show that HIF-2alpha cooperates with the Ets-1 transcription factor for activation of the VE-cadherin promoter and that this synergy is dependent on the binding of Ets-1 to DNA. This cooperative action of HIF-2alpha with Ets-1 most probably participates to the transcriptional regulation of expression of the gene in endothelial cells. This mechanism may also be involved in the expression of the VE-cadherin gene by tumor cells in the process of vascular mimicry.

Target gene selectivity of hypoxia-inducible factor-alpha in renal cancer cells is conveyed by post-DNA-binding mechanisms

Inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) leads to failure of proteolytic regulation of the alpha subunits of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), constitutive upregulation of the HIF complex, and overexpression of HIF target genes. However, recent studies have indicated that in this setting, upregulation of the closely related HIF-alpha isoforms, HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha, have contrasting effects on tumour growth, and activate distinct sets of target genes. To pursue these findings, we sought to elucidate the mechanisms underlying target gene selectivity for HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation to probe binding to hypoxia response elements in vivo, and expression of chimaeric molecules bearing reciprocal domain exchanges between HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha molecules, we show that selective activation of HIF-alpha target gene expression is not dependent on selective DNA-binding at the target locus, but depends on non-equivalent C-terminal portions of these molecules. Our data indicate that post-DNA binding mechanisms that are dissimilar for HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha determine target gene selectivity in RCC cells.

Mammalian Tumor Suppressor Int6 Specifically Targets Hypoxia Inducible Factor 2α for Degradation by Hypoxia- and pVHL-independent Regulation

The hypoxia-inducible factors HIF-1 alpha and HIF-2 alpha are structurally similar as regards their DNA-binding and dimerization domains, but differ in their transactivation domains and, as is shown by experiments using hif-1 alpha(-/-) and hif-2 alpha(-/-) mice, in their functions. This implies that HIF-1 alpha and HIF-2 alpha may have unique target genes. To address this discrepancy and identify HIF-2 alpha-specific target genes, we performed yeast two-hybrid analysis and identified the tumor suppressor Int6/eIF3e/p48 as a novel target gene product involved in HIF-2 alpha regulation. The int6 gene was first identified from a screen in which the mouse mammary tumor virus was employed as an insertional mutagen to identify genes whose functions are critical for breast tumor formation. Here, by using two-hybrid analysis, immunoprecipitation in mammalian cells, and HRE-reporter assays, we report the specific interaction of HIF-2 alpha (but not HIF-1 alpha or HIF-3 alpha) with Int6. The results indicate that the direct interaction of Int6 induces proteasome inhibitor-sensitive HIF-2 alpha degradation. This degradation was clearly observed in renal cell carcinoma 786-O cells, and was found to be both hypoxia- and pVHL-independent. Furthermore, Int6 protein knockdown by int6-siRNA vectors or the dominant-negative mutant Int6-Delta C increased endogenous HIF-2 alpha expression, even under normoxia, and induced sets of critical angiogenic factors comprising vascular endoplasmic growth factor, angiopoietin, and basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA. These results indicate that Int6 is a novel and critical determinant of HIF-2 alpha-dependent angiogenesis as well as cancer formation, and that int6-siRNA transfer may be an effective therapeutic strategy in pathological conditions such as heart and brain ischemia, hepatic cirrhosis, and obstructive vessel diseases.

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression of two hypoxia-inducible factor alpha subunits, HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha, in a hypoxia-tolerant marine teleost, Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus)

Alteration of gene expression is a crucial component of adaptation by animals to hypoxic conditions and is mediated by specific transcription factors, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which are composed of alpha and beta subunits. In this study, we report the cloning and characterization of two HIF-alpha subunits, HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha, and their expression in various tissues of a hypoxia-tolerant marine teleost, Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). The full-length croaker HIF-1alpha (2805 bp) and HIF-2alpha (3205 bp) cDNAs contain open reading frames encoding proteins with 720 and 847 amino acids, respectively, which are highly homologous to the HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha proteins of other non-mammalian species. Croaker HIF-1 alpha shares only 43% sequence identity with the croaker HIF-2alpha subunit. However, the basic helix-loop-helix/Per-ARNT-Sim regions appear to be relatively well conserved between the two proteins, with identities of 75-83%. The core oxygen-dependent degradation domain regions in croaker HIFs are well conserved, suggesting a similar mechanism of HIF degradation to that in other vertebrate species. Northern blot analysis showed that croaker HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha mRNAs (transcript sizes 3.0-3.8 kb) are highly expressed in the brain, heart, liver, and gonads under hypoxic conditions, whereas muscle tissues show lower levels of expression. Short-term (1.7 mg/L dissolved oxygen, DO for 3 days to 1 week) and long-term (1.7, 2.7 and 3.7 mg/L DO for 3 weeks) hypoxia exposure caused significant increases in HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha mRNA expression in croaker ovaries compared to mRNA levels in fish held in normoxic conditions (DO: 6.5 mg/L). However, HIF transcript levels in hypoxia-exposed fish had returned to control values 24 h after the DO in the tanks was restored to normoxic levels. The results suggest that the upregulation of both HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha subunits at the transcriptional level is an important component of adaptation of croaker to chronic hypoxia and HIF-alphas are potentially useful molecular indicators of

The hypoxia-inducible factor 2alpha N-terminal and C-terminal transactivation domains cooperate to promote renal tumorigenesis in vivo

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a heterodimeric transcription factor, consisting of an alpha subunit and a beta subunit, that controls cellular responses to hypoxia. HIFalpha contains two transcriptional activation domains called the N-terminal transactivation domain (NTAD) and the C-terminal transactivation domain (CTAD). HIFalpha is destabilized by prolyl hydroxylation catalyzed by EglN family members. In addition, CTAD function is inhibited by asparagine hydroxylation catalyzed by FIH1. Both hydroxylation reactions are linked to oxygen availability. The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL) is frequently mutated in kidney cancer and is part of the ubiquitin ligase complex that targets prolyl hydroxylated HIFalpha for destruction. Recent studies suggest that HIF2alpha plays an especially important role in promoting tumor formation by pVHL-defective renal carcinoma cells among the three HIFalpha paralogs. Here we dissected the relative contribution of the two HIF2alpha transactivation domains to hypoxic gene activation and renal carcinogenesis and investigated the regulation of the HIF2alpha CTAD by FIH1. We found that the HIF2alpha NTAD is capable of activating both artificial and naturally occurring HIF-responsive promoters in the absence of the CTAD. Moreover, we found that the HIF2alpha CTAD, in contrast to the HIF1alpha CTAD, is relatively resistant to the inhibitory effects of FIH1 under normoxic conditions and that, perhaps as a result, both the NTAD and CTAD cooperate to promote renal carcinogenesis in vivo.

Regulation of angiogenesis by hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factors

Maintenance of oxygen homeostasis is critical for the survival of multicellular organs. As a result, both invertebrates and vertebrates have developed highly specialized mechanisms to sense changes in oxygen levels and to mount adequate cellular and systemic responses to these changes. Hypoxia, or low oxygen tension, occurs in physiological situations such as during embryonic development, as well as in pathological conditions such as ischemia, wound healing, and cancer. A primary effector of the adaptive response to hypoxia in mammals is the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) family of transcription regulators. These proteins activate the expression of a broad range of genes that mediate many of the responses to decreased oxygen concentration, including enhanced glucose uptake, increased red blood cell production, and the formation of new blood vessels via angiogenesis. This latter process is dynamic and results in the establishment of a mature vascular system that is indispensable for proper delivery of oxygen and nutrients to all cells in both normal tissue and hypoxic regions. Angiogenesis is essential for normal development and neoplastic disease as tumors must develop mechanisms to stimulate vascularization to meet increasing metabolic demands. The link between hypoxia and the regulation of angiogenesis is an area of intense research and the molecular details of this connection are still being elaborated. This chapter will provide an overview of current knowledge and highlight new insights into the importance of HIF and hypoxia in angiogenesis in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Development of novel therapeutic strategies that target HIF-1

Activity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is increased in human cancers as a result of the physiological induction of HIF-1alpha in response to intratumoural hypoxia and as a result of genetic alterations that activate oncogenes and inactivate tumour suppressor genes. In many cancer types, increased HIF-1alpha expression is associated with increased risk of patient mortality. HIF-1 plays important roles in every major aspect of cancer biology through the transcriptional regulation of hundreds of genes. The efficacy of many novel anticancer agents that target signal transduction pathways may be due in part to their indirect inhibition of HIF-1. Several novel compounds with anticancer activity have been shown to inhibit HIF-1 and may be useful as components of individualised multidrug therapeutic regimens chosen based on molecular analyses of tumour biopsies.

Novel thioredoxin inhibitors paradoxically increase hypoxia-inducible factor-alpha expression but decrease functional transcriptional activity, DNA binding, and degradation

PURPOSE

Hypoxia-inducible factor-alpha (HIF-alpha) is a transcription factor that regulates the response to hypoxia. HIF-alpha protein is found at high levels in many cancers, and the redox protein thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) increases both aerobic and hypoxia-induced HIF-alpha. Therefore, Trx-1 and HIF-alpha are attractive molecular targets for novel cancer therapeutics.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We investigated whether two novel anticancer drugs AJM290 and AW464 (quinols), which inhibit Trx-1 function, can inhibit the HIF pathway.

RESULTS

Treatment of several cancer cell lines with AJM290 or AW464 prevented the hypoxia-induced increase of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at subtoxic concentrations. AJM290 and AW464 also decreased VEGF in pVHL mutant renal cell carcinoma cells that constitutively overexpress HIF-alpha protein. They surprisingly up-regulated HIF-alpha expression in breast cancer cell lines in normoxia and hypoxia as well as in pVHL mutant cells. In the MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell line, the compounds inhibited RNA and protein expression of the HIF-alpha target genes, carbonic anhydrase IX, VEGF, and BNIP3, concordantly with HIF-alpha up-regulation. Both compounds specifically inhibited HIF-alpha-dependent induction of hypoxia regulatory element-luciferase and HIF-1alpha hypoxia regulatory element-DNA binding. To analyze the HIF-1alpha domain inhibited by AJM290, we transfected cells with plasmids expressing a fusion protein of Gal linked to HIF-1alpha or HIF-1alpha COOH-terminal transactivation domain (CAD) with a Gal4-responsive luciferase reporter gene. AJM290 inhibited both the full-length HIF-1alpha and HIF-1alpha CAD transcriptional activity.

CONCLUSIONS

AJM290 and AW464 are inhibitors of HIF-1alpha CAD transcription activity and DNA binding, but they also inhibit degradation of HIF, in contrast to other Trx inhibitors.

Normoxic stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha by modulation of the labile iron pool in differentiating U937 macrophages: effect of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a transcription factor with major roles in many cellular and systemic responses to hypoxia. Activation of HIF pathways under hypoxia is mediated by suppression of the Fe(2+)- and O(2)-dependent HIF hydroxylase enzymes that normally inactivate HIFalpha subunits. Mechanisms underlying induction of HIF in normoxic conditions are less clearly understood. In human cancers, infiltrating macrophages show up-regulation of HIF and it has recently been shown that normoxic expression of HIF-1alpha is essential for macrophage function. Here, we report studies of HIF-1alpha induction following phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation of monocytic U937 and THP1 cells. HIF-1alpha was markedly up-regulated under normoxia in this setting and this involved failure of HIF-1alpha prolyl hydroxylation despite the presence of O(2). Fluorescence measurements showed that differentiation was associated with marked reduction of the labile iron pool. Both the reduction in labile iron pool and the up-regulation of HIF-1alpha were suppressed by RNA interference-mediated down-regulation of the iron transporter natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1. Up-regulation of HIF-1alpha following PMA-induced differentiation was also abolished by addition of Fe(2+) or ascorbate. These results indicate that physiologic changes in macrophage iron metabolism have an important effect on HIF hydroxylase pathways and suggest means by which the system could be manipulated for therapeutic benefit.

Vascular patterns in glioblastoma influence clinical outcome and associate with variable expression of angiogenic proteins: evidence for distinct angiogenic subtypes

No data exist on angiogenic patterns and their prognostic impact in human glioblastoma. Such data are relevant for translation of antiangiogenic therapies into clinical applications. Using immunohistochemistry for CD34, we assessed vascular patterns in 114 primary glioblastomas. Vascular patterns comprised unevenly distributed glomeruloid/garland-like/clustered bizarre vascular formations and evenly distributed delicate capillary-like microvessels ("classic" vascular pattern). The combination of low content of bizarre vascular formations and prominent classic vascular pattern (n=29) was an independent factor for longer survival (p=0.006, Cox regression), as well as postoperative high Karnofsky performance status (p=0.005). In patients with a prominent classic vascular pattern, there was no difference of MIB1 labeling index whereas microvessel density and apoptotic index (TUNEL) were significantly higher as compared to all other patients (p<0.05). In addition, diffuse expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and strong expression of vascular endothelial growth factor were more common (p<0.05, Chi-square test). FISH revealed loss of chromosomes 1p and 19q only in 1/7 long-time survivors with classic pattern. We conclude that vascular patterns in primary glioblastoma influence clinical outcome and associate with variable expression of angiogenic proteins. Our findings denote for the first time distinct angiogenic subtypes of human glioblastoma which may prove relevant for anti-angiogenic therapy approaches.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors repress the transactivation potential of hypoxia-inducible factors independently of direct acetylation of HIF-alpha

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are heterodimeric transcription factors regulating the oxygen supply, glucose metabolism, and angiogenesis. HIF function requires the recruitment of p300/CREB-binding protein, two coactivators with histone acetyltransferase activity, by the C-terminal transactivation domain of HIF-alpha (HIF-alphaCAD). Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDAIs) induce differentiation or apoptosis and repress tumor growth and angiogenesis, hence being explored intensively as anti-cancer agents. Using combined pharmacological, biochemical, and genetic approaches, here we show that HDAIs repress the transactivation potential of HIF-alphaCAD. This repression is independent of the function of tumor suppressors von Hippel-Lindau or p53 or the degradation of HIF-alpha. We also demonstrate the sufficiency of low concentrations of HDAIs in repression of HIF target genes in tumor cells. We further show that HDAIs induce hyperacetylation of p300 and repress the HIF-1alpha.p300 complex in vivo. In vitro acetylation analysis reveals that the p300CH1 region, but not HIF-alphaCAD, is susceptible to acetylation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that a deacetylase activity is indispensable for the transactivation potential of HIF-alphaCAD and support a model that acetylation regulates HIF function by targeting HIF-alpha.p300 complex, not by direct acetylating HIF-alpha. The demonstration that HDAIs repress both HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha transactivation potential independently of von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor and p53 function indicates that HDAIs may have biological effects in a broad range of tissues in addition to tumors.

NO restores HIF-1alpha hydroxylation during hypoxia: role of reactive oxygen species

The activity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is primarily determined by stability regulation of its alpha subunit, which is stabilized under hypoxia but degraded during normoxia. Hydroxylation of HIF-1alpha by prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) recruits the von Hippel-Lindau (pVHL) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex to initiate proteolytic destruction of the alpha subunit. Hypoxic stabilization of HIF-1alpha has been reported to be antagonized by nitric oxide (NO). By using a HIF-1alpha-pVHL binding assay, we show that NO released from DETA-NO restored prolyl hydroxylase activity under hypoxia. Destabilization of HIF-1alpha by DETA-NO was reversed by free radical scavengers such as NAC and Tiron, thus pointing to the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, we examined the effects of ROS on HIF-1alpha stabilization. Treatment of cells under hypoxia with low concentrations of the superoxide generator 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone lowered HIF-1alpha protein stabilization. In vitro HIF-1alpha-pVHL interaction assays demonstrated that low-level ROS formation increased prolyl hydroxylase activity, an effect antagonized by ROS scavengers. While determining intracellular ROS formation we noticed that reduced ROS production under hypoxia was restored by the addition of DETA-NO. We propose that an increase in ROS formation contributes to HIF-1alpha destabilization by NO donors under hypoxia via modulation of PHD activity.

Proline hydroxylation and gene expression

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a master transcriptional regulator of hypoxia-inducible genes and consists of a labile alpha subunit (such as HIF1alpha) and a stable beta subunit (such as HIF1beta or ARNT). In the presence of oxygen, HIFalpha family members are hydroxylated on one of two conserved prolyl residues by members of the egg-laying-defective nine (EGLN) family. Prolyl hydroxylation generates a binding site for a ubiquitin ligase complex containing the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor protein, which results in HIFalpha destruction. In addition, the HIFalpha transcriptional activation function is modulated further by asparagine hydroxylation by FIH (factor-inhibiting HIF), which affects recruitment of the coactivators p300 and CBP. These findings provide new mechanistic insights into oxygen sensing by metazoans and are the first examples of protein hydroxylation being used in intracellular signaling. The existence of three human EGLN family members, as well as other putative hydroxylases, raises the possibility that this signal is used in other contexts by other proteins.

The von Hippel-Lindau protein, HIF hydroxylation, and oxygen sensing

The heterodimeric transcription factor HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor), consisting of a labile alpha-subunit and a stable beta-subunit, is a master regulator of genes involved in acute or chronic adaptation to low oxygen. Studies performed over the past 5 years revealed that HIFalpha-subunits are enzymatically hydroxylated in an oxygen-dependent manner. Hydroxylation of either of two conserved prolyl residues targets HIFalpha for destruction by a ubiquitin ligase containing the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein whereas hydroxylation on a C-terminal asparagine affects HIF transactivation function. Pharmacological manipulation of HIF activity might be beneficial in diseases characterized by abnormal tissue oxygenation including myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer.

Dioxygenases as O2-dependent regulators of the hypoxic response pathway

A ubiquitous pathway by which mammalian cells sense and respond to changes in oxygen availability relies upon the hypoxic induction of a transcription factor, HIF. HIF in turn activates the expression of an assemblage of genes promoting compensatory shifts in the capacity for anaerobic metabolism, O2 delivery, and other adaptive processes. The stability and activity of HIF are each regulated as a function of O2. Both mechanisms are directly mediated by posttranslational modification of this transcription factor: hydroxylation of proline and asparagine residues, respectively. These modifications are performed by members of the Fe(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase family whose activities are directly and indirectly dependent on cellular O2 levels. As such, these oxygenases fill a role as environmental and metabolic sensors, a paradigm that may extend to other biological pathways.

Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) in rheumatology: low O2! See what HIF can do!

Maintenance of oxygen homoeostasis is the basic principle in cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and function in all higher organisms. The transcription factor, HIF (hypoxia inducible factor) has a central role in oxygen homoeostasis, and is indispensably linked to energy metabolism. Abnormally reduced oxygen concentrations leading to dysfunctional cell metabolism are found in rheumatoid arthritis and hence, knowledge of the molecular adaptive responses to hypoxia and the involvement of HIF in the pathogenesis of RA are interesting.