Abstract 3945: HIFs regulate alternative splicing of HIF target genes

Abstract

Abstract Alternative splicing is the process in which identical pre-mRNA molecules are spliced in different ways, allowing individual gene to express multiple mRNAs or isoforms that encode proteins with diverse and even antagonistic functions. Alternative splicing occurs in over 70% of human genes, is important in normal development and many diseases including cancer. It is well known that most solid-tumors are hypoxic and the hypoxic microenvironment is a driving force for tumor progression and metastasis by hypoxia-inducible-factor (HIF)-mediated transcriptional programs that increase genes involved in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Here, we report a novel finding that transcriptional factor HIF not only activates gene expression, also regulates RNA splicing of its target genes, generating isoforms that favor tumor growth. Using an Exon Microarray we found that approximately 1000 genes are predicted to undergo hypoxia-mediated AS in Hep3B cells, 100 of those genes are hypoxia inducible genes. Using RT-PCR, RT-qPCR and WB we validated that the first 10 HIF target genes, CA9, ANGPTL4, WNK1, PLOD2, ADM, DUOX2, ENO2, P4HA2, EGLN3, and PDK1 undergo hypoxia-mediate AS, as predicted by exon array. Interestingly, AS of these genes is regulated by HIFs, not by hypoxia since: 1) siRNA knockdown of ARNT, HIF1, or HIF2 inhibits hypoxic induction of HIF target genes as well as inhibits hypoxia-mediated splicing changes; and 2) Normoxic HIF activity by deleting VHL, inhibiting PHD, or expressing normoxic-stable HIF protein led to hypoxic splicing patterns of HIF target genes, demonstrating HIF activity is sufficient to induce alternative splicing of HIF target genes. However, AS of HIF target genes cannot be explained by increased transcription of these genes since no splicing changes were observed when these genes were activated by hybrid protein with HIF transactivation domains replaced by VP16, E2F1, or SP1 transactivation domain. Further experiments indicated that the N-terminal transactivation domains (N-TAD) of HIF1α or HIF2α are responsible for splicing changes of these HIF-target genes. In summary, we have uncovered a novel function of HIFs in the regulation of target gene splicing. The discovery of HIF's role in mRNA splicing of its target genes will change the dogma concerning the role of HIF in cancer progression. We propose that HIFs promote cancer progression not only through transcription activation but also through alteration of mRNA splicing of HIF targets. RO1 CA134687 NIH/NCI (Hu) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3945. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3945