缺氧诱导因子-1α调节叉头框蛋白1表达促进大鼠外周血间充质干细胞缺氧存活

间充质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells, MSCs)是再生医学中临床使用最多的干细胞之一。外周血间充质干细胞(peripheral blood mesenchymal stem cells, PBMSCs)以其获取简便、创伤小和具有多向分化能力等优势,在人类缺血性疾病的治疗方面具有重要应用前景。但尚未建立在缺氧环境下,使PBMSCs高存活和高扩增培养方法。本研究旨在探讨HIF-1α(hypoxia-inducible factor -1α, HIF-1α)通过调节叉头框蛋白1(forkhead box C1, FoxC1)表达,促进PBMSCs缺氧存活和扩增的作用。采取SD大鼠外周血,分离出单个核细胞(mononuclear cells, MNCs),培养第3代后得到MSCs,随机将细胞进行以下3种处理,并分组:未处理组(Control, CON)、HIF-1α激动剂组(dimethyloxallyl glycine, DMOG,0.1 mmol/L,DMOG组)和HIF-1α抑制剂组(BAY87-2243,50 nmol/L,BAY组),进行缺氧培养PBMSCs,观察各组不同时间点(1 h、10 h、20 h、30 h、40 h、50 h、60 h、70 h、80 h)PBMSCs凋亡和增殖情况。应用qRT-PCR和Western 印迹观察细胞FoxC1表达情况,及抗凋亡分子Bcl2和凋亡信号分子Bax和胱天蛋白酶3(caspase3)表达情况。MNCs经过3代培养后,可得到纯度较高的PBMSCs。但是,这些细胞在体外缺氧培养30 h即发生凋亡,但经HIF-1α激动剂DMOG能抑制其凋亡,能使PBMSCs缺氧延长到60 h以上。与CON组比较,DMOG处理使DMOG组PBMSCs活力升高2.6倍(P<0.001),细胞老化率(SA-β-gal阳性细胞百分率)降低70.1%(P<0.001),细胞凋亡率(Annexin V+PI+细胞百分率)减少64.6%(P<0.001)。加入HIF-1α抑制剂BAY87-2243则引起相反的变化:培养20 h后细胞增殖能力明显减弱,与CON组比较,BAY组细胞活力明显下降(P<0.001),老化率增加35.6%(P<0.001),细胞凋亡率增加38.1%(P<0.001)。进一步研究发现,DMOG可上调HIF-1α表达,促进FoxC1表达(DMOG组较CON组升高2.3倍,P<0.001),上调抗凋亡蛋白Bcl2(DMOG组较CON组升高3.8倍,P<0.001)、下调凋亡蛋白Bax和胱天蛋白酶3表达(各下降86.5%和85.0%,均P<0.001),而加入BAY87-2243显著降低HIF-1α、FoxC1和Bcl2表达,上调Bax和胱天蛋白酶3表达(与CON组比较,均P<0.001)。由此可见,HIF-1α-FoxC1是影响MSCs缺氧存活和增殖的重要信号途径,这有助于提高PBMSCs在缺氧环境中存活和扩增。     

Effect of chemical stabilizers of hypoxia-inducible factors on early lung development

Low oxygen stimulates pulmonary vascular development and airway branching and involves hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). HIF is stable and initiates expression of angiogenic factors under hypoxia, whereas normoxia triggers hydroxylation of the HIF-1alpha subunit by prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) and subsequent degradation. Herein, we investigated whether chemical stabilization of HIF-1alpha under normoxic (20% O(2)) conditions would stimulate vascular growth and branching morphogenesis in early lung explants. Tie2-LacZ (endothelial LacZ marker) mice were used for visualization of the vasculature. Embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) lung buds were dissected and cultured in 20% O(2) in the absence or presence of cobalt chloride (CoCl(2), a hypoxia mimetic), dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG; a nonspecific inhibitor of PHDs), or desferrioxamine (DFO; an iron chelator). Vascularization was assessed by X-gal staining, and terminal buds were counted. The fine vascular network surrounding the developing lung buds seen in control explants disappeared in CoCl(2)- and DFO-treated explants. Also, epithelial branching was reduced in the explants treated with CoCl(2) and DFO. In contrast, DMOG inhibited branching but stimulated vascularization. Both DFO and DMOG increased nuclear HIF-1alpha protein levels, whereas CoCl(2) had no effect. Since HIF-1alpha induces VEGF expression, the effect of SU-5416, a potent VEGF receptor (VEGFR) blocker, on early lung development was also investigated. Inhibition of VEGFR2 signaling in explants maintained under hypoxic (2% O(2)) conditions completely abolished vascularization and slightly decreased epithelial branching. Taken together, the data suggest that DMOG stabilization of HIF-1alpha during early development leads to a hypervascular lung and that airway branching proceeds without the vasculature, albeit at a slower rate.     

Damage-associated molecular patterns in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis: potentially novel therapeutic targets

Albendazole (ABZ) has an anti-tumor ability and inhibits HIF-1α activity. HIF-1α is associated with glycolysis and vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) expression, which plays an important role in cancer progression. These clues indicate that ABZ exerts an anti-cancer effect by regulating glycolysis and VEGF expression. The aim of this study is to clarify the effects of ABZ on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. The expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF were detected using western blot analysis, and the effect of ABZ on glycolysis was evaluated by measuring the relative activities of hexokinase (HK), pyruvate kinase (PK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and detecting the production of lactate in A549 and H1299 cells. The results showed that ABZ decreased the expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF and suppressed glycolysis in under hypoxia, but not normoxic condition. Inhibiting HIF-1α also suppressed glycolysis and VEGF expression. Additionally, ABZ inhibited the volume and weight, decreased the relative activities of HK, PK, and LDH, and reduced the levels of HIF-1α and VEGF of A549 xenografts in mouse models. In conclusion, ABZ inhibited growth of NSCLC cells by suppressing HIF-1α-dependent glycolysis and VEGF expression.     

Stimulation of HIF-1alpha, HIF-2alpha, and VEGF by prolyl 4-hydroxylase inhibition in human lung endothelial and epithelial cells

Diminished alveolar and vascular development is characteristic of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) affecting many preterm newborns. Hypoxia promotes angiogenic responses in developing lung via, for example, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). To determine if prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PHD) inhibition could augment hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and expression of angiogenic proteins essential for lung development, HIF-1alpha and -2alpha proteins were assessed in human developing and adult lung microvascular endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial-like cells treated with either the HIF-PHD-selective inhibitor PHI-1 or the nonselective PHD inhibitors dimethyloxaloylglycine (DMOG) and deferoxamine (DFO). PHI-1 stimulated HIF-1alpha and -2alpha equally or more effectively than did DMOG or DFO, enhanced VEGF release, and elevated glucose consumption, whereas it was considerably less cytotoxic than DMOG or DFO. Moreover, VEGF receptor Flt-1 levels increased, whereas KDR/Flk-1 decreased. PHI-1 treatment also increased PHD-2, but not PHD-1 or -3, protein. These results provide proof of principle that HIF stimulation and modulation of HIF-regulated angiogenic proteins through PHI-1 treatment are feasible, effective, and nontoxic in human lung cells, suggesting the use of PHI-1 to enhance angiogenesis and lung growth in evolving BPD.     

Chemically mimicked hypoxia modulates gene expression and protein levels of the sodium calcium exchanger in HEK 293 cell line via HIF-1α

Up to now a little is known about the effect of hypoxia on the sodium calcium exchanger type 1 (NCX1) expression and function. Therefore, we studied how dimethyloxallyl glycine (DMOG), an activator and stabilizer of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, could affect expression of the NCX1 in HEK 293 cell line. We also tried to determine whether this activation can result in the induction of apoptosis in HEK 293 cells. We have found that DMOG treatment for 3 hours significantly increased gene expression and also protein levels of the NCX1. This increase was accompanied by a decrease in intracellular pH. Wash-out of DMOG did not result in reduction of the NCX1 mRNA and protein to original - control levels, although pH returned to physiological values. Using luciferase reporter assay we observed increase in the NCX1 promoter activity after DMOG treatment and using wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF)-HIF-1(+/+) and HIF-1-deficient MEF-HIF-1(-/-) cells we have clearly shown that in the promoter region, HIF-1α is involved in DMOG induced upregulation of the NCX1. Moreover, we also showed that an increase in the NCX1 mRNA due to the apoptosis induction is not regulated by HIF-1α.     

d-Glucosamine down-regulates HIF-1α through inhibition of protein translation in DU145 prostate cancer cells

d-Glucosamine has been reported to inhibit proliferation of cancer cells in culture and in vivo. In this study we report a novel response to d-glucosamine involving the translation regulation of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α expression. d-Glucosamine caused a decreased expression of HIF-1α under normoxic and hypoxic conditions without affecting HIF-1α mRNA expression in DU145 prostate cancer cells. d-Glucosamine inhibited HIF-1α accumulation induced by proteasome inhibitor MG132 and prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor DMOG suggesting d-glucosamine reduces HIF-1α protein expression through proteasome-independent pathway. Metabolic labeling assays indicated that d-glucosamine inhibits translation of HIF-1α protein. In addition, d-glucosamine inhibited HIF-1α expression induced by serum stimulation in parallel with inhibition of p70S6K suggesting d-glucosamine inhibits growth factor-induced HIF-1α expression, at least in part, through p70S6K inhibition. Taken together, these results suggest that d-glucosamine inhibits HIF-1α expression through inhibiting protein translation and provide new insight into a potential mechanism of the anticancer properties of d-glucosamine.     

缺氧诱导因子-1在非小细胞肺癌胸水中的表达及其与肿瘤血管生成的关系

目的探讨缺氧诱导因子-1(hypoxia inducible factor-1,HIF-1)在非小细胞肺癌胸水细胞中的表达及其与肿瘤血管生成的关系。方法利用免疫组织化学、免疫细胞化学分别检测1180例非小细胞肺癌标本中HIF-1α和HIF-1β蛋白的表达以及非小细胞肺癌胸水细胞中血管生成标记物CD34和VEGF的表达情况,其中包括1060例非小细胞肺癌胸水标本以及用于对照的120例肺穿刺非小细胞肺癌组织标本。结果 HIF-1α在非小细胞肺癌穿刺组织中的表达率72.50%(87/120)明显高于非小细胞肺癌胸水中表达率17.55%(186/1060),差异有统计学意义(P0.05);HIF-1β在非小细胞肺癌穿刺组织中的表达率为77.50%(93/120),而在非小细胞肺癌胸水中表达率为81.42%(863/1060),差异无统计学意义(P0.05);CD34、VEGF在非小细胞肺癌胸水细胞中阳性表达率分别为77.92%(826/1060)、82.92%(879/1060)。HIF-1α与HIF-1β的表达呈显著正相关(r=0.093,P=0.002),HIF-1α与VEGF的表达呈显著正相关(r=104,P=0.001),HIF-1β与VEGF的表达无相关性(P0.05)。结论 HIF-1α在非小细胞肺癌穿刺组织与非小细胞肺癌胸水中的差异性表达,可能与非小细胞肺癌胸水细胞缺氧适应性调节有关,HIF-1与肿瘤血管生成密切相关。     

Concerted inhibition of HIF-1α and -2α expression markedly suppresses angiogenesis in cultured RPE cells

HIF-1α is known to play an important role in the induction of VEGF by hypoxia in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. However, the involvement of the other isoform, HIF-2α, in RPE cells remains unclear. Thus, the purpose of present study was to clarify the role of HIF-2α during induction of angiogenic genes in hypoxic RPE cells. When human RPE cells (ARPE-19) were cultured under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1α and HIF-2α proteins increased. This induced an increase in mRNA for VEGF, causing secretion of VEGF protein into the medium. This conditioned medium induced tube formation in human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC). The increased expression of mRNA for VEGF in hypoxic RPE cells was partially inhibited by HIF-1α siRNA, but not by HIF-2α siRNA. However, co-transfection of HIF-1α siRNA and HIF-2α siRNA augmented downregulation of VEGF mRNA and protein in hypoxic RPE cells and inhibited formation of tube-like structures in HUVEC. GeneChip and PCR array analyses revealed that not only VEGF, but also expression of other angiogenic genes were synergistically downregulated by co-transfection of hypoxic RPE cells with HIF-1α and HIF-2α siRNAs. These findings suggest an important compensatory role for the HIF-2α isoform in the regulation of angiogenic gene expression. Thus, suppression of angiogenic genes for HIF-1α and HIF-2α may be a possible therapeutic strategy against retinal angiogenesis in Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).     

A novel regulation of VEGF expression by HIF-1α and STAT3 in HDM2 transfected prostate cancer cells

On the basis of increasing roles for HDM2 oncoprotein in cancer growth and progression, we speculated that HDM2 might play a major role in hypoxia-induced metastatic process. For verification of this hypothesis, wild-type LNCaP prostate cancer cells and HDM2 transfected LNCaP-MST (HDM2 stably transfected) cells were studied. The data obtained from our experiments revealed that the HDM2 transfected LNCaP-MST cells possessed an ability to multiply rapidly and show distinct morphological features compared to non-transfected LNCaP cells. During exposures to hypoxia HDM2 expression in the LNCaP and LNCaP-MST cells was significantly higher compared to the normoxic levels. The LNCaP-MST cells also expressed higher levels of HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α) and p-STAT3 even under the normoxic conditions compared to the non-transfected cells. The HIF-1α and p-STAT3 expressions were increased several fold when the cells were subjected to hypoxic conditions. The HIF-1α and p-STAT3 protein expressions observed in HDM2 transfected LNCaP-MST cells were 20 and 15 folds higher, respectively, compared to the non-transfected wild-type LNCaP cells. These results demonstrate that HDM2 may have an important regulatory role in mediating the HIF-1α and p-STAT3 protein expression during both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression that is typically regulated by HIF-1α and p-STAT3 was also increased significantly by 136% (P < 0.01) after HDM2 transfection. The overall results point towards a novel ability of HDM2 in regulating HIF-1α and p-STAT3 levels even in normoxic conditions that eventually lead to an up-regulation of VEGF expression.     

Podocytes protect glomerular endothelial cells from hypoxic injury via deSUMOylation of HIF-1α signaling

Hypoxia can cause severe tubulointerstitial injury and peritubular capillary loss. However, hypoxia-induced injury in glomerular capillaries is far milder than tubulointerstitium, but the reason for this difference is unclear. We hypothesized that the phenomenon is due to the protective crosstalk among intrinsic glomerular cells. To mimic the microenvironment and investigate the crosstalk process temporally, we established co-culture models of glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) with podocytes or with mesangial cells. We found that podocytes rather than mesangial cells prevented GEnCs from injury and hypoxia-induced apoptosis and promoted migration and angiogenesis of GEnCs under hypoxic conditions. We then identified that increased activation of the hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) pathway as the major mechanism enabling podocytes to protect GEnCs against hypoxia. HIF-1α stabilization during hypoxia is known to be dependent on SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1)-mediated deSUMOylate modifications. Therefore, we further targeted deSUMOylation, regulated by SENP1, by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown of SENP1 mRNA in vitro and measured expression of HIF-1α and its downstream gene VEGF in hypoxic podocytes. Our results showed that SENP1 was essential for HIF-1α deSUMOylation in podocytes. The blockade of deSUMOylation by SENP1 shRNA successfully abolished the activation of HIF-1α signaling and consequently suppressed the protective effects of podocytes on GEnCs. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that hypoxia may promote HIF-1α stabilization and activation by increasing SENP1 expression in podocytes, which induce GEnCs survival and angiogenesis to resist hypoxia. Thus, deSUMOylation of HIF-1α signaling is a potentially novel therapeutic target for treating hypoxic renal disorders.