Hypoxia modulates lipopolysaccharide induced TNF-alpha expression in murine macrophages

The pro-inflammatory activity of Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) together with tissue hypoxia determine the clinical outcome in sepsis and septic shock. p38 MAPKinase is the primary intracellular signaling pathway that regulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-alpha biosynthesis, however, the effect of hypoxia on LPS mediated activation of p38 is not known. Here we report that SB203580, a specific p38 MAPK inhibitor, which completely abolished LPS-induced TNF-alpha expression by the mouse macrophage cell RAW264.7 in normoxic conditions, lost the inhibitory effect in hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia did not modulate expression of p38 MAPK, but increased that of p-MK2, a downstream target of p38 MAPK. In LPS induced endotoxemia mice model SB203580 had no inhibitory effect on the serum levels of TNF-alpha. Furthermore, hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) was detected in vivo after LPS administration but its expression was not affected by SB203580. Our data indicate that LPS induced p38 MAPK activation was enhanced by hypoxia and consequently increased TNF-alpha secretion. Furthermore, the induction of HIF-1alpha in mice with endotoxemia suggested a synergistic effect on p38 mediated TNF-alpha expression. These findings provide new insights on the pathophysiological effects of hypoxia in sepsis and septic shock.     

HIF-1alpha and p53: the ODD couple?

Tumor hypoxia activates hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and induces the accumulation of the tumor suppressor p53. HIF-1 signaling stimulates angiogenesis and mediates cellular adaptation to hypoxia, whereas p53 promotes hypoxia-induced apoptosis. A recent article provides in vitro biophysical evidence supporting a direct interaction between p53 and the oxygen-dependent degradation domain of the HIF-1alpha subunit. The article identifies potential structural parameters required for this interaction and suggests an alternative mechanism by which p53 might impact tumor response to therapy.     

A non-hypoxic, ROS-sensitive pathway mediates TNF-alpha-dependent regulation of HIF-1alpha

A non-hypoxic, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive pathway mediating tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-dependent regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-alpha) was investigated in vitro. TNF-alpha mediated the translocation of HIF-1alpha, associated with up-regulating its activity under normoxia. Analysis of the mode of action of TNF-alpha revealed the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O(2-.)) and hydroxyl radical (.OH). Antioxidants purported as prototypical scavengers of H2O2 and .OH, attenuated TNF-alpha-induced HIF-1alpha activation, and blockading NADPH-oxidase by scavenging O(2-.) reduced the activity of HIF-1alpha. Inhibition of the mitochondrion complex I abrogated TNF-alpha-dependent activation of HIF-1alpha. Interrupting the respiratory chain reversed the excitatory effect of TNF-alpha on HIF-1alpha. These results indicate a non-hypoxic pathway mediating cytokine-dependent regulation of HIF-1alpha in a ROS-sensitive mechanism.     

Induction of hypoxia-inducible-factor 1 by nitric oxide is mediated via the PI 3K pathway

Adaptation to hypoxic stress provokes activation of the hypoxia-inducible-factor-1 (HIF-1) which mediates gene expression of, e.g., erythropoietin or vascular endothelial growth factor. Detailed information on signaling pathways that stabilize HIF-1 is missing, but reactive oxygen species degrade the HIF-1 alpha subunit, whereas phosphorylation causes its stabilization. It was believed that hypoxia resembles the only HIF-1 inducer but recent evidence characterized other activators of HIF-1 such as nitric oxide (NO). Herein, we concentrated on NO-evoked HIF-1 induction as a heretofore unappreciated inflammatory response in association with massive NO formation. We demonstrated that S-nitrosoglutathione induces HIF-1 alpha accumulation and concomitant DNA binding. The response was attenuated by the kinase inhibitor genistein and blockers of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase such as Ly 294002 or wortmannin. Whereas mitogen-activated protein kinases were not involved, we noticed phosphorylation/activation of Akt in correlation with HIF-1 alpha stabilization. NO appears to regulate HIF-1 alpha via the PI 3K/Akt pathway under normoxic conditions.     

Hypoxic condition- and high cell density-induced expression of Redd1 is regulated by activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha and Sp1 through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway

Redd1, a recently discovered stress-response gene, is regulated by hypoxia via hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and by DNA damage via p53/p63; however, the signaling pathway by which its expression is induced by hypoxia has not been elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrated that the expression of Redd1 in response to hypoxia (1% O(2)), hypoxia-mimetic agent, cobalt chloride (CoCl(2)) and high cell density (HCD) requires coactivation of HIF-1alpha and Sp1. CoCl(2) and HCD induced the activation of HIF-1alpha and Sp1 in HeLa cells, and siRNAs targeting HIF-1alpha and Sp1 abrogated Redd1 expression. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) by LY294002 and by a dominant-negative PI3K mutant reduced the expression of Redd1 and activation of HIF-1alpha and Sp1 by CoCl(2) and HCD. Also, suppression of Akt activation blocked the expression of Redd1 and the activation of HIF-1alpha and Sp1 by CoCl(2) and HCD. Furthermore, we found that the induction of Redd1 expression by CoCl(2) can be mediated by activation of Sp1 in HIF-1alpha-deficient cells but that a higher level of Redd1 expression is achieved when these cells are transfected with HIF-1alpha. These results demonstrate that hypoxic condition-and HCD-induced expression of Redd1 is mediated by coactivation of Sp1 and HIF-1alpha downstream of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.     

Desferrioxamine, an iron chelator, enhances HIF-1alpha accumulation via cyclooxygenase-2 signaling pathway

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an important inducible enzyme in inflammation and is overexpressed in a variety of cancers. Evidence is rapidly accumulating that chronic inflammation may contribute to carcinogenesis through increase of cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis in a number of neoplasms, including colorectal carcinoma. In the present study, we investigated some mechanistic aspects of DFX-induced hypoxia-driven COX-2 expression. Desferrioxamine (DFX), an iron chelator, is known to upregulate inflammatory mediators. DFX induced the expression of COX-2 and accumulation of HIF-1alpha protein in dose-dependent manners, but hypoxia mimetic agent cobalt chloride (CoCl2) induced accumulation of HIF-1alpha protein but not increase of COX-2 expression. DFX-induced increase of COX-2 expression and HIF-1alpha protein level was attenuated by addition of ferric citrate. This result suggested that the iron chelating function of DFX was important to induce the increase of COX-2 and HIF-1alpha protein. PD98059 significantly inhibited the induction of COX-2 protein and accumulation of HIF-1alpha, suggesting that DFX-induced increase of HIF-1alpha and COX-2 protein was mediated, at least in part, through the ERK signaling pathway. In addition, pretreatment with NS-398 to inhibit COX-2 activity also effectively suppressed DFX-induced HIF-1alpha accumulation in human colon cancer cells, providing the evidence that COX-2 plays as a regulator of HIF-1alpha accumulation in DFX-treated colon cancer cells. Together, our findings suggest that iron metabolism may regulate stabilization of HIF-1alpha protein by modulating cyclooxygenase-2 signaling pathway.