Project description:To investigate the detailed molecular mechanisms for the regulatory role of HIF-2α in experimental colitis, microarray gene expression analysis was performed on colon RNA isolated from 6- to 8-week-old Hif-2αF/F, Hif-2αlΔIE mice treated with 3%DSS for 3 days. Background & Aims: Hypoxic inflammation is characterized by decreased oxygen tension in inflammatory foci, and is a notable feature in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Hypoxic response is mediated by transcription factors hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and HIF-2α, both of which are highly induced in IBD. HIF-1α is a protective factor that limits intestinal barrier dysfunction during inflammation. However, the role of HIF-2α has not been assessed in hypoxic inflammation and IBD. Methods: A hypoxia reporter mouse model was used to test the presence of hypoxia and HIF-2α in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and Citrobacter rodentium (C.rod)-induced colitis. The role of HIF-2α in these mouse models of colitis was further assessed in mice with an intestinal epithelium-specific gain- and loss-of-function of HIF-2α. Results: Induction of hypoxia and HIF-2α was confirmed in both murine experimental colitis models and human IBD samples. Disruption of HIF-2α attenuated colonic inflammation whereas stabilization of HIF-2α potentiated inflammation in mouse models of colitis. Interestingly, intestine specific overexpression of HIF-2α but not HIF-1α leads to spontaneous colitis and premature death in mice. Further mechanistic analysis showed that HIF-2α is a driver for pro-inflammatory response and is critical regulator of intestinal epithelial-derived tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Blocking TNF-α completely ameliorated HIF-2α potentiated intestinal inflammation. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that HIF-2α is a critical transcription factor essential in intestinal epithelium elicited inflammatory response. Global gene expression profiling in colon RNAs isolated from 7-week-old Hif-2αF/F (n=6, Shah 007) and Hif-2αΔIE (n=5, Shah 008).
Project description:To investigate the detailed molecular mechanisms for the regulatory role of HIF-2α in experimental colitis, microarray gene expression analysis was performed on colon RNA isolated from 6- to 8-week-old Hif-2αF/F, Hif-2αlΔIE mice treated with 3%DSS for 3 days. Background & Aims: Hypoxic inflammation is characterized by decreased oxygen tension in inflammatory foci, and is a notable feature in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Hypoxic response is mediated by transcription factors hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and HIF-2α, both of which are highly induced in IBD. HIF-1α is a protective factor that limits intestinal barrier dysfunction during inflammation. However, the role of HIF-2α has not been assessed in hypoxic inflammation and IBD. Methods: A hypoxia reporter mouse model was used to test the presence of hypoxia and HIF-2α in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and Citrobacter rodentium (C.rod)-induced colitis. The role of HIF-2α in these mouse models of colitis was further assessed in mice with an intestinal epithelium-specific gain- and loss-of-function of HIF-2α. Results: Induction of hypoxia and HIF-2α was confirmed in both murine experimental colitis models and human IBD samples. Disruption of HIF-2α attenuated colonic inflammation whereas stabilization of HIF-2α potentiated inflammation in mouse models of colitis. Interestingly, intestine specific overexpression of HIF-2α but not HIF-1α leads to spontaneous colitis and premature death in mice. Further mechanistic analysis showed that HIF-2α is a driver for pro-inflammatory response and is critical regulator of intestinal epithelial-derived tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Blocking TNF-α completely ameliorated HIF-2α potentiated intestinal inflammation. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that HIF-2α is a critical transcription factor essential in intestinal epithelium elicited inflammatory response.
Project description:Inflammation is a significant risk factor for colon cancer. Recent work has demonstrated essential roles for several infiltrating immune populations in the metaplastic progression following inflammation. Hypoxia and stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are hallmark features of inflammation and solid tumors. Previously, we demonstrated an important role for tumor epithelial HIF-2α in colon tumors; however, the function of epithelial HIF-2α as a critical link in the progression of inflammation to cancer has not been elucidated. In colitis-associated colon cancer models, epithelial HIF-2α was essential in tumor growth. Concurrently, epithelial disruption of HIF-2α significantly decreased neutrophils in the colon tumor microenvironment. Intestinal epithelial HIF-2α-overexpressing mice demonstrated that neutrophil recruitment was a direct response to increased epithelial HIF-2α signaling. High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of HIF-2α-overexpressing mice in conjunction with data mining from the Cancer Genome Atlas showed that the neutrophil chemokine CXCL1 gene was highly upregulated in colon tumor epithelium in a HIF-2α-dependent manner. Using selective peptide inhibitors of the CXCL1-CXCR2 signaling axis identified HIF-2α-dependent neutrophil recruitment as an essential mechanism to increase colon carcinogenesis. These studies demonstrate that HIF-2α is a novel regulator of neutrophil recruitment to colon tumors and that it is essential in shaping the protumorigenic inflammatory microenvironment in colon cancer.
Project description:Transcriptomic analysis of nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues from intervertebral discs of 14- and 24-month-old mice with the conditional postnatal overexpression of HIF-2α. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are essential for the homeostasis of the hypoxic tissues, and therefore, increased activity of the transcription factor HIF-2α is shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of mild disc degeneration in the spine. We examined the transcriptomic profiles of nucleus pulposus cells in control and K19-HIF-2α-dPA overexpression mice using microarrays.
Project description:Hypoxia is a hallmark of renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and serves as an essential regulator of innate immune responses during this process, although the mechanisms of this regulation remain unclear. Here, we show that dendritic cell (DC)-specific genetic ablation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) 2α, a transcription factor induced by oxygen shortage, leads to hyperactivation of natural killer T cells (NKTs), ultimately exacerbating renal IRI in mice. HIF-2α deficiency in DCs triggers IFN-γ and IL-4 production in NKTs, along with upregulation of type I interferon (IFN) and chemokine responses critical for NKT activation. Mechanistically, loss of HIF-2α in DCs promotes their expression of CD36, a scavenger receptor for lipid uptake, resulting in increased lipid accumulation. Furthermore, HIF-2α binds directly to a reverse hypoxia-responsive element (rHRE) in the CD36 promoter, supporting its transcriptional regulation of CD36. Importantly, CD36 blockade by sulfo-N-succinimidyl oleate (SSO), reduces NKT activation and abolishes the exacerbation of renal IRI in mice with DC-specific HIF-2α knockout. Taken together, our study reveals a previously unrecognized role of a HIF-2α-CD36 regulatory axis in rewiring DC lipid metabolism under IRI-associated hypoxia, and suggests a potential therapeutic target to resolve long-standing obstacles in clinical treatment of this severe complication.
Project description:Proliferation of neoplastic plasma cells within the bone marrow leads to reduced oxygen availability. In response to hypoxia, the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF-2α) is activated and stabilised. We hypothesise that activation of HIF-2α is a central driver of multiple myeloma disease progression, leading to the induction of transcription of genes associated with angiogenesis, osteoclast activation and cell migration. In this study we assessed the affects of HIF-2α overexpression on gene expression in the human myeloma cell line LP-1.
Project description:Chronic hypoxia induces pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension (PH). While it is established that transcription factors, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1α/HIF-2α) activate gene programs that drive hypoxia-induced PH, the mechanism of HIF-1/2 activation is less clear. Here, we report that carboxylterminus of Hsp70-interacting protein (CHIP or Stub1) modulates HIF-1α and HIF-2α transcription rather than reducing their stability. Knocking-down Stub1 reduced hypoxic activation of HIF-1α mRNA, protein, and activity while enhancing hypoxic induction of HIF-2α mRNA, protein, and target genes in pulmonary vascular cells. Mechanistically, CBP/p300-mediated acetylation of lysine (K287) inactivates the ubiquitin ligase activity of Stub1 and triggers its translocation from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. There, it recognizes the HIF promoter and hypoxia response elements (HREs) in target genes. Expression of Stub1-K287Q mutant (mimicking acetylation) enhanced hypoxia-induced HIF-1α expression, while acetyl-deficient Stub1-K287R mutant had the opposite effect on HIF-α but enhanced hypoxia-induced HIF-2α transcriptional activity. Endothelial-Stub1 transgenic mice tolerated chronic hypoxia better, had less pulmonary vascular remodeling, reduced pulmonary vascular resistance, and greater cardioprotection. Thus, Stub1 nuclear translocation enhances hypoxic induction of HIF-1α activity while suppressing deleterious effects of HIF-2α. These observations indicate that nuclear-Stub1 synergizes with HIF-1α to promote transcriptional responses and antagonizes HIF2α-driven PH in chronic hypoxia.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of primary mouse articular chondrocyte infected with recombinant adenovirus expressing the hypoxia inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) protein. In this study, we have attempted to explore the effects of HIF-2α overexpression on mouse transcriptome and have identified numerous genes which are involved in osteoarthritis pathogenesis.
Project description:To identify the precise molecular mechanisms that could contribute to the increase in colon carcinogenesis, microarray gene expression analysis was performed on colon RNA isolated from 5-week-old VhlF/F and VhlΔIE, VhlΔIE/Apcmin/+ and VhlF/F/Apcmin/+ mice. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a key modulator of the transcriptional response to hypoxia and is increased in colon cancer. However, the role of HIF in colon carcinogenesis in vivo remains unclear. Intestinal epithelium-specific disruption of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (VHL) resulted in constitutive HIF signaling, and increased HIF expression augmented colon tumorigenesis in the Apcmin/+ intestinal tumor model. Intestine-specific disruption of Vhl increased colon tumor multiplicity and progression from adenomas to carcinomas. These effects were ameliorated in mice with double disruption of Vhl and Hif-2α. Activation of HIF signaling resulted in increased cell survival in normal colon tissue, however tumor apoptosis was not affected. Interestingly, a robust activation of cyclin D1 was observed in tumors of Apcmin/+ mice in which HIF-2α was activated in the intestine. Consistent with this result, BrdU incorporation indicated that cellular proliferation was increased in colon tumors following HIF activation. Further analysis demonstrated that dysregulation of the intestinal iron absorption transporter divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT-1) was a critical event in HIF-2α-mediated colon carcinogenesis. These data provide a mechanistic basis for the widely reported link between iron accumulation and colon cancer risk. Together, our findings demonstrate that a chronic increase in HIF-2α in the colon initiates pro-tumorigenic signaling which may have important implications in developing preventive and therapeutic strategies for colon cancer. Global gene expression profiling in colon RNAs isolated from 5-week-old VhlF/F (n=4, Shah 001), VhlF/F/Apcmin/+(n=3, Shah 003), VhlΔIE (n=3, Shah 002) and VhlΔIE/Apcmin/+ mice (n=5, Shah 004).
Project description:To investigate glucose intolerance and white adipocyte hypertrophy shown in ZFP251 knockout (KO) mice, We performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from the RNA-seq of epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT).