title: Induction of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha gene expression by vascular endothelial growth factor.
abstract: Transcriptional regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is critically dependent on hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). However, not only hypoxia, but selected growth factors can induce HIF-1. High levels of both VEGF and HIF-1 coexist in certain conditions, e.g. tumors. Nonetheless, the possibility that the stimulatory relationship between HIF-1 and VEGF may be bi-directional has not been addressed up to date. The present study in endothelial cells analyzed whether HIF-1 is regulated by a product of its own transcriptionally activated genes, namely, VEGF. As a main finding, VEGF-A(165) induced the increase of HIF-1alpha mRNA and HIF-1alpha protein and nuclear translocation. Autologous endothelial cell VEGF mRNA and protein were also increased upon exposure to exogenous VEGF. The signaling implication of reactive oxygen species was examined by comparison with H(2)O(2) and hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase and by the superoxide dismutase mimetic, MnTMPyP, the Rac1-NAD(P)H oxidase complex inhibitor, apocynin, transfection of a dominant negative Rac1 mutant, and transfection of a p67phox antisense oligonucleotide. Superoxide anion, largely dependent on Rac1-NAD(P)H oxidase complex activity, was the critical signaling element. The transductional functionality of the pathway was confirmed by means of a reporter gene flanked by a transcription site-related VEGF sequence and by quantitative PCR. In summary, the present results reveal a previously undescribed action of VEGF on the expression of its own transcription factor, HIF-1, and on VEGF itself. This effect is principally mediated by superoxide anion, therefore identifying a new, potentially relevant role of reactive oxygen species in VEGF signaling.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Nefrología-Hipertensión, Fundación Jiménez Díaz-Capio, Hospital de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan José P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Deudero
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caramelo
authors.forename: María Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Castellanos
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neria
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-Sánchez
authors.forename: Olalla
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Calabia
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peñate
authors.forename: Francisco Román
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: González-Pacheco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D019271:Hypoxanthine / Q000378:metabolism; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D013481:Superoxides; D019271:Hypoxanthine; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein