title: Emodin Decreases Hepatic Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1[Formula: see text] by Inhibiting its Biosynthesis.
abstract: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is an [Formula: see text] dimeric transcription factor. Because HIF-1[Formula: see text] is instable with oxygen, HIF-1 is scarce in normal mammalian cells. However, HIF-1[Formula: see text] is expressed in pathological conditions such as cancer and obesity. Inhibiting HIF-1[Formula: see text] may be of therapeutic value for these pathologies. Here, we investigated whether emodin, derived from the herb of Rheum palmatum L, which is also known as Chinese rhubarb, and is native to China, regulates HIF-1[Formula: see text] expression. Male C57BL/6 mice without or with diet-induced obesity were treated with emodin for two weeks, while control mice were treated with vehicle. HIF-1[Formula: see text] expression was determined by Western blot. We found that emodin inhibited obesity-induced HIF-1[Formula: see text] expression in liver and skeletal muscle but did not regulate HIF-1[Formula: see text] expression in the kidneys or in intra-abdominal fat. In vitro, emodin inhibited HIF-1[Formula: see text] expression in human HepG2 hepatic cells and Y1 adrenocortical cells. Further, we investigated the mechanisms of HIF-1[Formula: see text] expression in emodin-treated HepG2 cells. First, we found that HIF-1[Formula: see text] had normal stability in the presence of emodin. Thus, emodin did not decrease HIF-1[Formula: see text] by stimulating its degradation. Importantly, emodin decreased the activity of the signaling pathways that led to HIF-1[Formula: see text] biosynthesis. Interestingly, emodin increased HIF-1[Formula: see text] mRNA in HepG2 cells. This may be a result of feedback in response to the emodin-induced decrease in the protein of HIF-1[Formula: see text]. In conclusion, emodin decreases hepatic HIF-1[Formula: see text] by inhibiting its biosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: * Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Feifei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: † Tianjin Institute of Integrative Medicine for Acute Abdominal Diseases, Nankai Hospital, Tianjin 300100, China.
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: * Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: † Tianjin Institute of Integrative Medicine for Acute Abdominal Diseases, Nankai Hospital, Tianjin 300100, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004642:Emodin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D004642:Emodin
keywords: Emodin; High Fat Diet; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1; Liver; Mouse; Obesity