title: AMP-dependent protein kinase alpha 2 isoform promotes hypoxia-induced VEGF expression in human glioblastoma.
abstract: Tumor cells respond to hypoxic stress by upregulating a variety of genes involved in glucose uptake, glycolysis, and angiogenesis, all essential to maintaining nutrient availability and intracellular ATP levels. Adenosine monophosphate-dependent kinase (AMPK) is a key sensor for cellular homeostasis and is highly sensitive to changes in AMP:ATP ratios. The two catalytic AMPK alpha isoforms (AMPKalpha1, AMPKalpha2) were investigated with respect to their expression, cellular distribution, and contribution to VEGF expression under hypoxic stress in human U373 glioblastoma cells. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed AMPKalpha1 mRNA to be constitutively expressed in normoxia and hypoxia, whereas AMPKalpha2 mRNA levels were low in normoxia and significantly induced in hypoxia. Fluorescent immunohistochemistry showed that AMPKalpha2 protein redistributed to the nucleus under hypoxia, whereas AMPKalpha1 remained distributed throughout the cell. The AMPK chemical inhibitor, 5-iodotubericidin, effectively repressed the hypoxic induction of VEGF mRNA levels and hypoxia inducible factor-1 dependent transcription. AMPKalpha2 repression with RNA interference reduced hypoxia-induced VEGF mRNA and HIF-1 transcription, whereas AMPKalpha1 repression did not. Human glioblastoma cell lines U118 and U138 also showed hypoxia-induction of AMPKalpha2 as well as VEGF. Immunohistochemistry analysis of human astrocytoma/glioma samples revealed AMPKalpha2 present in high grade gliomas within hypoxic pseudopalisading microenvironments. These data suggest that prolonged hypoxia promotes the expression and functional activation of AMPKalpha2 and VEGF production in glioma cell lines and glioblastoma multiform tumors, thus contributing to tumor survival and angiogenesis in high grade human gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Center for Vascular Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030-3501, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Neurath
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Keough
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.forename: Kevin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Claffey
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000502:physiology; D014372:Tubercidin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C034214:5-iodotubercidin; C526181:PRKAA2 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D014372:Tubercidin