HIF1α-dependent uncoupling of glycolysis suppresses tumor cell proliferation

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) attenuates mitochondrial activity while promoting glycolysis. However, lower glycolysis is compromised in human clear cell renal cell carcinomas, in which HIF1α acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting cell-autonomous proliferation. Here, we find that, unexpectedly, HIF1α suppresses lower glycolysis after the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) step, leading to reduced lactate secretion in different tumor cell types when cells encounter a limited pyruvate supply such as that typically found in the tumor microenvironment in vivo. This is because HIF1α-dependent attenuation of mitochondrial oxygen consumption increases the NADH/NAD+ ratio that suppresses the activity of the NADH-sensitive GAPDH glycolytic enzyme. This is manifested when pyruvate supply is limited, since pyruvate acts as an electron acceptor that prevents the increment of the NADH/NAD+ ratio. Furthermore, this anti-glycolytic function provides a molecular basis to explain how HIF1α can suppress tumor cell proliferation by increasing the NADH/NAD+ ratio.

Unique expression of the atypical mitochondrial subunit NDUFA4L2 in cerebral pericytes fine tunes HIF activity in response to hypoxia

A central response to insufficient cerebral oxygen delivery is a profound reprograming of metabolism, which is mainly regulated by the Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF). Among other responses, HIF induces the expression of the atypical mitochondrial subunit NDUFA4L2. Surprisingly, NDUFA4L2 is constitutively expressed in the brain in non-hypoxic conditions. Analysis of publicly available single cell transcriptomic (scRNA-seq) data sets coupled with high-resolution multiplexed fluorescence RNA in situ hybridization (RNA F.I.S.H.) revealed that in the murine and human brain NDUFA4L2 is exclusively expressed in mural cells with the highest levels found in pericytes and declining along the arteriole-arterial smooth muscle cell axis. This pattern was mirrored by COX4I2, another atypical mitochondrial subunit. High NDUFA4L2 expression was also observed in human brain pericytes in vitro, decreasing when pericytes are muscularized and further induced by HIF stabilization in a PHD2/PHD3 dependent manner. In vivo, Vhl conditional inactivation in pericyte targeting Ng2-cre transgenic mice dramatically induced NDUFA4L2 expression. Finally NDUFA4L2 inactivation in pericytes increased oxygen consumption and therefore the degree of HIF pathway induction in hypoxia. In conclusion our work reveals that NDUFA4L2 together with COX4I2 is a key hypoxic-induced metabolic marker constitutively expressed in pericytes coupling mitochondrial oxygen consumption and cellular hypoxia response.

Erythroid SLC7A5/SLC3A2 amino acid carrier controls red blood cell size and maturation

Inhibition of the heterodimeric amino acid carrier SLC7A5/SLC3A2 (LAT1/CD98) has been widely studied in tumor biology but its role in physiological conditions remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SLC7A5/SLC3A2 heterodimer is constitutively present at different stages of erythroid differentiation but absent in mature erythrocytes. Administration of erythropoietin (EPO) further induces SLC7A5/SLC3A2 expression in circulating reticulocytes, as it also occurs in anemic conditions. Although Slc7a5 gene inactivation in the erythrocyte lineage does not compromise the total number of circulating red blood cells (RBCs), their size and hemoglobin content are significantly reduced accompanied by a diminished erythroblast mTORC1 activity. Furthermore circulating Slc7a5-deficient reticulocytes are characterized by lower transferrin receptor (CD71) expression as well as mitochondrial activity, suggesting a premature transition to mature RBCs. These data reveal that SLC7A5/SLC3A2 ensures adequate maturation of reticulocytes as well as the proper size and hemoglobin content of circulating RBCs.

Metformin reduces macrophage HIF1α-dependent proinflammatory signaling to restore brown adipocyte function in vitro

Therapeutic potential of metformin in obese/diabetic patients has been associated to its ability to combat insulin resistance. However, it remains largely unknown the signaling pathways involved and whether some cell types are particularly relevant for its beneficial effects. M1-activation of macrophages by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) promotes a paracrine activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) in brown adipocytes which reduces insulin signaling and glucose uptake, as well as β-adrenergic sensitivity. Addition of metformin to M1-polarized macrophages blunted these signs of brown adipocyte dysfunction. At the molecular level, metformin inhibits an inflammatory program executed by HIF1α in macrophages by inducing its degradation through the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I activity, thereby reducing oxygen consumption in a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-independent manner. In obese mice, metformin reduced inflammatory features in brown adipose tissue (BAT) such as macrophage infiltration, proinflammatory signaling and gene expression, and restored the response to cold exposure. In conclusion, the impact of metformin on macrophages by suppressing a HIF1α-dependent proinflammatory program is likely responsible for a secondary beneficial effect on insulin-mediated glucose uptake and β-adrenergic responses in brown adipocytes.

Pharmacological HIF-PHD inhibition reduces renovascular resistance and increases glomerular filtration by stimulating nitric oxide generation

AIM

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are O₂ -sensitive transcription factors that regulate multiple biological processes which are essential for cellular adaptation to hypoxia. Small molecule inhibitors of HIF-prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) dioxygenases (HIF-PHIs) activate HIF-dependent transcriptional programs and have broad clinical potential. HIF-PHIs are currently in global late-stage clinical development for the treatment of anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease. Although the effects of hypoxia on renal haemodynamics and function have been studied in animal models and in humans living at high altitude, the effects of pharmacological HIF activation on renal haemodynamics, O₂ metabolism and metabolic efficiency are not well understood.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional study design, we investigated renal haemodynamics, O₂ metabolism, gene expression and NO production in healthy rats treated with different doses of HIF-PHIs roxadustat or molidustat compared to vehicle control.

RESULTS

Systemic administration of roxadustat or molidustat resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in renovascular resistance (RVR). This was associated with increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine flow and tubular sodium transport rate (T_Na ). Although both total O₂ delivery and T_Na were increased, more O₂ was extracted per transported sodium in rats treated with high-doses of HIF-PHIs, suggesting a reduction in metabolic efficiency. Changes in RVR and GFR were associated with increased nitric oxide (NO) generation and substantially suppressed by pharmacological inhibition of NO synthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data provide mechanistic insights into dose-dependent effects of short-term pharmacological HIF activation on renal haemodynamics, glomerular filtration and O₂ metabolism and identify NO as a major mediator of these effects.

Inactivation of HIF-prolyl 4-hydroxylases 1, 2 and 3 in NG2-expressing cells induces HIF2-mediated neurovascular expansion independent of erythropoietin

AIM

NG2 cells in the brain are comprised of pericytes and NG2 glia and play an important role in the execution of cerebral hypoxia responses, including the induction of erythropoietin (EPO) in pericytes. Oxygen-dependent angiogenic responses are regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), the activity of which is controlled by prolyl 4-hydroxylase domain (PHD) dioxygenases and the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumour suppressor. However, the role of NG2 cells in HIF-regulated cerebral vascular homeostasis is incompletely understood.

METHODS

To examine the HIF/PHD/VHL axis in neurovascular homeostasis, we used a Cre-loxP-based genetic approach in mice and targeted Vhl, Epo, Phd1, Phd2, Phd3 and Hif2a in NG2 cells. Cerebral vasculature was assessed by immunofluorescence, RNA in situ hybridization, gene and protein expression analysis, gel zymography and in situ zymography.

RESULTS

Vhl inactivation led to a significant increase in angiogenic gene and Epo expression. This was associated with EPO-independent expansion of capillary networks in cortex, striatum and hypothalamus, as well as pericyte proliferation. A comparable phenotype resulted from the combined inactivation of Phd2 and Phd3, but not from Phd2 inactivation alone. Concomitant PHD1 function loss led to further expansion of the neurovasculature. Genetic inactivation of Hif2a in Phd1/Phd2/Phd3 triple mutant mice resulted in normal cerebral vasculature.

CONCLUSION

Our studies establish (a) that HIF2 activation in NG2 cells promotes neurovascular expansion and remodelling independently of EPO, (b) that HIF2 activity in NG2 cells is co-controlled by PHD2 and PHD3 and (c) that PHD1 modulates HIF2 transcriptional responses when PHD2 and PHD3 are inactive.

HIF1α Suppresses Tumor Cell Proliferation through Inhibition of Aspartate Biosynthesis

Cellular aspartate drives cancer cell proliferation, but signaling pathways that rewire aspartate biosynthesis to control cell growth remain largely unknown. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) can suppress tumor cell proliferation. Here, we discovered that HIF1α acts as a direct repressor of aspartate biosynthesis involving the suppression of several key aspartate-producing proteins, including cytosolic glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase-1 (GOT1) and mitochondrial GOT2. Accordingly, HIF1α suppresses aspartate production from both glutamine oxidation as well as the glutamine reductive pathway. Strikingly, the addition of aspartate to the culture medium is sufficient to relieve HIF1α-dependent repression of tumor cell proliferation. Furthermore, these key aspartate-producing players are specifically repressed in VHL-deficient human renal carcinomas, a paradigmatic tumor type in which HIF1α acts as a tumor suppressor, highlighting the in vivo relevance of these findings. In conclusion, we show that HIF1α inhibits cytosolic and mitochondrial aspartate biosynthesis and that this mechanism is the molecular basis for HIF1α tumor suppressor activity.

HIF Oxygen Sensing Pathways in Lung Biology

Cellular responses to oxygen fluctuations are largely mediated by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). Upon inhalation, the first organ inspired oxygen comes into contact with is the lungs, but the understanding of the pulmonary HIF oxygen-sensing pathway is still limited. In this review we will focus on the role of HIF1α and HIF2α isoforms in lung responses to oxygen insufficiency. In particular, we will discuss novel findings regarding their role in the biology of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in the context of hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction. Moreover, we will also discuss recent studies into HIF-dependent responses in the airway epithelium, which have been even less studied than the HIF-dependent vascular responses in the lungs. In summary, we will review the biological functions executed by HIF1 or HIF2 in the pulmonary vessels and epithelium to control lung responses to oxygen fluctuations as well as their pathological consequences in the hypoxic lung.