title: Activation of the transcription factor HIF-1 and its target genes, VEGF, HO-1, iNOS, during fracture repair.
abstract: One of the immediate sequelae of bone fracture is regional hypoxia resulting from vasculature disruption. Hypoxia stabilizes and activates the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), which ultimately leads to HIF-1-regulated gene expression. Because nothing is known about HIF-1 involvement in bone regeneration, we performed a series of experiments to elucidate the expression pattern of HIF-1alpha and selected HIF-1 target genes using a rat femoral fracture model. Callus samples were obtained on postfracture days (PFD) 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 21. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to quantify the temporal mRNA expression patterns of HIF-1alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Elevated HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression was seen at all time points, with peak increases of approximately 6- and 2-fold relative to the intact bone present on PFD 10 for HIF-1alpha and VEGF, respectively. Robust activation of iNOS was detected solely on PFD 10 (6.8-fold) with all other time points showing slight downregulation. HO-1 expression peaked on PFD 3 (4.5-fold) with no significant changes on any other PFD. Western blot analysis verified the temporal expression patterns with HIF-1alpha protein expression showing a steady rise to a PFD 10 peak of approximately 18-fold. Similarly, the expression patterns for VEGF and HO-1 showed increases of approximately 4-fold at their PFD 10 and PFD 3 peaks, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis of PFD 10 callus sections revealed coexpression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in proliferating chondrocytes and active osteoblasts. Immunostaining for HO-1 on PFD 3 callus sections demonstrated strong expression in hematoma macrophages and vascular endothelial cells. Taken together, these experiments demonstrate for the first time that HIF-1alpha is upregulated at both transcriptional and translational levels in the fracture callus and indicate that PFD 10 may be a key angiogenic time point in the developing rat fracture callus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, NY 11794-2580, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadjiargyrou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1