Targeting Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 Alpha Research Articles

Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Epigenetic Factors HIF-1a and KDM3A in Ovarian Cancer and PCOS

Ovarian cancer and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are significant health concerns for women, posing challenges in terms of treatment and prognosis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1a) and lysine demethylase 3A (KDM3A) have emerged as promising therapeutic targets for both conditions due to their involvement in critical cellular processes. This article explores the therapeutic potential of targeting HIF-1a and KDM3A in ovarian cancer and PCOS, investigating their molecular mechanisms in disease progression, including angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and metabolic dysregulation. Recent preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of HIF-1a and KDM3A inhibitors are discussed, emphasizing their potential as innovative therapeutic strategies. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the complex interplay between HIF-1a, KDM3A, and the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer and PCOS, ultimately facilitating the development of targeted therapies.

Anti-Cancer Activity of Phytochemicals Targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is overexpressed in cancer, leading to a poor prognosis in patients. Diverse cellular factors are able to regulate HIF-1α expression in hypoxia and even in non-hypoxic conditions, affecting its progression and malignant characteristics by regulating the expression of the HIF-1α target genes that are involved in cell survival, angiogenesis, metabolism, therapeutic resistance, et cetera. Numerous studies have exhibited the anti-cancer effect of HIF-1α inhibition itself and the augmentation of anti-cancer treatment efficacy by interfering with HIF-1α-mediated signaling. The anti-cancer effect of plant-derived phytochemicals has been evaluated, and they have been found to possess significant therapeutic potentials against numerous cancer types. A better understanding of phytochemicals is indispensable for establishing advanced strategies for cancer therapy. This article reviews the anti-cancer effect of phytochemicals in connection with HIF-1α regulation.

MicroRNA-130a targeting hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha suppresses cell metastasis and Warburg effect of NSCLC cells under hypoxia

MicroRNAs have been demonstrated to play critical role in the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and hypoxia is a common hallmark of NSCLC. MiRNA-130a-3p (miR-130a) is a well-known tumor suppressor, and we intended to explore the role and mechanism of miR-130a in NSCLC cells under hypoxia. We used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method to measure miR-130a expression, and found that miR-130a was downregulated in human NSCLC tumors and cell lines (A549 and H1299), accompanied with upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1A), a marker of hypoxia. Besides, miR-130a low expression was associated with tumor burden and poor overall survival. Moreover, miR-130a expression was even downregulated in hypoxia-treated A549 and H1299 cells. Ectopic expression of miR-130a suppressed Warburg effect, migration and invasion in hypoxic A549 and H1299 cells, as evidenced by decreased glucose consumption, lactate production, hexokinase 2 expression, and numbers of migration cells and invasion cells analyzed by commercial glucose and lactate assay kits, western blotting and transwell assays. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-130a restrained xenograft tumor growth of A549 cells in mice. However, recovery of HIF1A could reverse the suppressive effect of miR-130a overexpression on cell migration, invasion and Warburg effect in hypoxic A549 and H1299 cells. Mechanically, dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assay confirmed a target relationship between miR-130a and HIF1A. Collectively, we demonstrated an anti-tumor role of miR-130a in NSCLC cells under hypoxia through targeting HIF1A, suggesting a potential target for the interfering of NSCLC.

Down-regulation of microRNA-31 suppresses hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride

MicroRNA-31 (miR-31) is among the most frequently altered microRNAs in human diseases, and altered expression of miR-31 has been detected in a large variety of diseases types. miR-31 could also regulate a variety of cell functions including hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are regarded as the major cell type involved in hepatic fibrosis. Male BALB/c mice (five mice per group aged 6 weeks) received 200 μL of body weight of carbon tetrachloride (10% CCl4) mixed with olive oil intraperitoneally, and the first dose was doubled. To induce hepatic fibrosis, carbon tetrachloride was injected twice a week for 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks. Control animals were injected with an equal volume of olive oil at the same time intervals. We found that miR-31 expression and fibrosis-related factors in four hepatic fibrosis stages. However, we noted that inhibition of miR-31 was down-regulated fibrosis-related factor expression in F1–F3 stages, but no F4 stage. Thus, we hypothesize that miR-31 may mediate hepatic fibrosis. In this research, we found that inhibition of miR-31 expression significantly inhibited HSC activation. The biological function of miR-31 during HSC activation might be through targeting hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha inhibitor (HIF1AN). Inhibition of miR-31 can reduce the transcription factor activity of hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) by targeting the biological effects of HIF1AN with the condition of hypoxia. In later hepatic fibrosis could be rescue combining with inhibition of miR-31 and adding heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HBEGF).

MiR-206 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Extracellular Matrix Accumulation by Targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) in Mesangial Cells Treated with High Glucose.

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to investigate the expression of miR-206 in human glomerular mesangial cells (hMCs) treated by exposure to high glucose (HG) levels, to assess the influence of miR-206 on the proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition of hMCs, and to investigate the potential mechanisms of action.Material/MethodsThe level of miR-206 was detected by RT-qPCR. MTT assay and colony formation assay were used to assess hMCs cell proliferation ability. Western blotting was carried out to measure the expression of related proteins. Bioinformatics software (http://www.targetscan.org) was used to predict the potential target genes of miR-206, and dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm this prediction.ResultsOur results suggest that the level of miR-206 was downregulated in HG-treated hMCs. Cell proliferation was promoted in HG-induced hMCs, while this phenomenon was significantly reversed with miR-206 mimics. miR-206 mimics significantly enhanced p21 expression and decreased cyclin D1 and CDK2 expressions, but the opposite was found in HG-induced hMCs. Moreover, the level of ECM proteins was notably increased in hMCs treated with HG, which was also significantly reversed by miR-206 mimics. miR-206 inhibitor had the opposite effects. Furthermore, HIF-1α was found to be a direct target of miR-206, and was negatively regulated by miR-206 in hMCs. miR-206 can target HIF-1α to modulate cell proliferation and ECM accumulation.ConclusionsCollectively, our results suggest that miR-206 plays a vital role in HG-treated hMCs through inhibiting cell proliferation and ECM accumulation, partly via targeting HIF-1α.

Inhibiting miR-155 protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via targeted regulation of HIF-1α in rats.

Objective(s):The aim of this study was to identify the role of miR-155 in the myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury through targeting hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α). Materials and Methods:We constructed rat models with myocardial I/R injury and H9C2 cell models with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) damage. Anti-miR-155 and HIF-1α short hairpin RNA (shRNA) were used to treat rats and H9C2 cells to measure infarct area (IA) by TTC staining, determine creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities by automatic biochemical analyzer, cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels by ELISA, and detect apoptosis-related proteins by Western blotting. TUNEL staining and flowcytometry were employed to evaluate the apoptosis, JC-1 staining to detect mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and MTT assay to determine H9C2 cell viability.Results:After I/R and H/R, significant elevations were observed in IA, apoptosis, CK, LDH, cTnT, cTnI, and miR-155 levels with reduced HIF-1α. Besides, H/R-induced H9C2 cells presented decreases in MMP and Bcl-2/Bax, but increases in cytosolic/mitochondrial ratio of cytochrome C (Cyt-C) and expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9. However, both rats and H9C2 cells showed an opposite tendency concerning the above after anti-miR-155 treatment. Nevertheless, HIF-1α shRNA effectively reversed protective effects of anti-miR-155 on alleviating I/R- and H/R- induced injury.Conclusion:Inhibiting miR-155 could reduce myocardial infarct size, suppress I/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and maintain the MMP to alleviate I/R-induced injury via specific regulation of HIF-1α.

Ultrasound-guided RNA interference targeting HIF-1 alpha improves the effects of transarterial chemoembolization in rat liver tumors.

AimTo investigate whether ultrasound-guided RNA interference (RNAi) targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) can enhance the efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma.Materials and methodsRats with orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma were randomized to four groups and treated as follows: 1) control; 2) siHIF-1α; 3) TACE; 4) siHIF-1α+TACE. Lentivirus (4×108 transfection units) with or without small interfering RNA (siRNA) expression in 0.6 mL transduction reagent was injected into tumors using a standard 1 mL syringe under ultrasonic guidance. In the siHIF-1α+TACE and siHIF-1α groups, rats received siRNA-expressing lentivirus; the rats in the TACE and control groups received lentivirus without siRNA. TACE was performed by placing a microcatheter into the gastroduodenal artery.ResultsThe median survival time, body weight, and tumor volume of the siHIF-1α+TACE group were better than those of the TACE, siHIF-1α, and control groups. A comparative analysis of the different treatment groups demonstrated that HIF-1α RNAi could downregulate the levels of HIF-1α and VEGF, inhibit tumor angiogenesis, and lessen metastases; all of these effects were enhanced by TACE.ConclusionHIF-1α RNAi, which was administered in vivo in liver tumors under ultrasound guidance, improved the efficacy of TACE in treating hepatocellular carcinoma in an animal model.

Study on suppression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor expression by siRNA targeting hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha

To evaluate suppression efficiency of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) specific siRNA derived from recombinant plasmid (pSUPER(H1-siHIF-1 alpha)) on both HIF-1 alpha mRNA and protein expression and concomitant downregulation of expression of downstream angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Stable pSUPER(H1-siHIF-1 alpha) expression cell lines were constructed by transient transfection of pSUPER(H1-siHIF-1 alpha) eukaryotic expression vector, followed by puromycin selection. Stable expression pSUPER(H1-siHIF-1 alpha) cell line with highest HIF-1 alpha inhibition efficiency determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was cultured under normoxia (20% O(2)) and hypoxia conditions (1% O(2)) together with control cells. RT-PCR, western blot and ELISA were used to measure inhibition ability of pSUPER(H1-siHIF-1 alpha) on HIF-1 alpha and VEGF expression. Compared to the control cells, both mRNA and protein level of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF were dramatically decreased by pSUPER(H1-siHIF-1 alpha) under hypoxia conditions. Under sufficient oxygen supply situation, HIF-1 alpha mRNA level was downregulated by pSUPER(H1-siHIF-1 alpha), but pSUPER(H1-siHIF-1 alpha) did not cause suppression of VEGF expression. pSUPER(H1-siHIF-1 alpha) could decrease HIF-1 alpha expression under both normoxia and hypoxia conditions. VEGF expression was downregulated under hypoxia conditions only. Consequently, pSUPER(H1-siHIF-1 alpha) might be a powerful tool for the inhibition of retinal neovascularization.

Down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor in human retinal pigment epithelial cells by small hairpin loop RNA targeting hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha under hypoxia condition

To explore the effect of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) gene on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells under hypoxia conditions by using small hairpin loop RNA (shRNA) to silence HIF-1 alpha. CoCl(2) (150 micromol/L) was used to simulate the hypoxia environment for hRPE cells. After choosing a target site of HIF-1 alpha mRNA, shRNA was designed and synthesized by this target site. hRPE cells were transfected by this shRNA in vitro. Then, these cells were cultured under hypoxia conditions (150 micromol/L CoCl(2)). The mRNA expression of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The protein level of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF was studied by western blot analysis. After hRPE cells were transfected by HIF-1 alpha-specific shRNA, RT-PCR showed that the expression of HIF-1 alpha mRNA was inhibited by 77.1%, and western blot analysis showed that the level of HIF-1 alpha protein was significantly decreased in hRPE cells under hypoxia conditions. Moreover, the expression of VEGF mRNA was inhibited by 27.8% and the level of VEGF protein was also significantly decreased in transfected hRPE cells under hypoxia conditions. Under hypoxia conditions, HIF-1 alpha-specific shRNA effectively keeps HIF-1 alpha gene silenced, and consequently down-regulates VEGF expression against hypoxia. These results suggest that HIF-1 alpha is one of the most important cytokines for retinal neovascularization.

Impact of RNA interference targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha on chemosensitivity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells under hypoxia

To investigate the impact of RNA interference (RNAi) targeting hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1 alpha) on chemosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells under hypoxia. Human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells of the line EC9706 were cultured and divided into 3 groups: untransfected group, added with cobalt chloride (CoCl(2)), a chemical hypoxia inducer, for 8 h so as to establish a hypoxia model; control siRNA transfected group, transfected with control siRNA, and 30 h after the transfection exposed to CoCl(2) for 8 h; and HIF-1 alpha siRNA-transfected group, transfected with HIF-1 alpha siRNA, and 30 h later exposed to CoCl(2) for 8 h. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of HIF-1 alpha. Another EC9706 were cultured and divided into 3 groups to be treated as mentioned above, and then exposed to cisplantin or platixal under normoxic or hypoxic condition. 24 hours later 3-(4, 5-carboxymethoxypheny1)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) colorimetric assay was used to detect the inhibition rates of the cells. Further another EC9706 cells were cultured and then divided into 5 groups: cultured under normoxic condition, cultured under hypoxic condition for 8 h, transfected with control siRNA for 30 h and then under hypoxic condition for 8 h, transfected with HIF-1 alpha siRNA for 30 h and then under hypoxic condition for 8 h. The cell cycle was measured by flow cytometry. The HIF-1alpha protein expression of the HIF-1alpha siRNA group was significantly lower than those of the untransfected and control siRNA transfected groups. The inhibition rates of the EC9706 cells of the groups treated by cisplatin of different concentrations under normoxic condition were all significantly higher than the corresponding levels under hypoxic condition (all P < 0.01). The inhibition rates of the EC9706 cells of the groups treated by platixal of different concentrations under normoxic condition were all significantly higher than the corresponding levels under hypoxic condition (all P < 0.05) Under hypoxic condition, the inhibition rates of the HIF-1alpha siRNA transfected EC9706 cells treated by cisplatin and platixal of different concentrations were all significantly higher than those of the control siRNA transfected and untransfected EC9706 cells (all P < 0.05). Flow cytometry showed that under hypoxic condition the proportion of cells in G(1)-phase of the EC9706 cells was significantly higher, and the proportion of S-phase cells was significantly lower than those of the normoxic group (both P < 0.05), and under the same hypoxic condition the proportion of the EC9706 cells in G(1)-phase was significantly lower, and the proportion the EC9706 cells in S-phase was significantly higher than those of the normoxic group (all P < 0.05). The cell cycle arrest induced by HIF-1alpha may be the mechanism of the resistance to anticancer drugs of the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells under hypoxic condition. Blocking HIF-1alpha in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells may reverse the multidrug resistance of the tumor cells, so it may offer an avenue for gene therapy.