Recruitment of HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha to common target genes is differentially regulated in neuroblastoma: HIF-2alpha promotes an aggressive phenotype

Cancer Cell. 2006 Nov;10(5):413-23. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2006.08.026.

Abstract

In neuroblastoma specimens, HIF-2alpha but not HIF-1alpha is strongly expressed in well-vascularized areas. In vitro, HIF-2alpha protein was stabilized at 5% O2 (resembling end capillary oxygen conditions) and, in contrast to the low HIF-1alpha activity at this oxygen level, actively transcribed genes like VEGF. Under hypoxia (1% O2), HIF-1alpha was transiently stabilized and primarily mediated acute responses, whereas HIF-2alpha protein gradually accumulated and governed prolonged hypoxic gene activation. Knockdown of HIF-2alpha reduced growth of neuroblastoma tumors in athymic mice. Furthermore, high HIF-2alpha protein levels were correlated with advanced clinical stage and high VEGF expression and predicted poor prognosis in a clinical neuroblastoma material. Our results demonstrate the relevance of HIF-2alpha in neuroblastoma progression and have general tumor biological implications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neuroblastoma / genetics
  • Neuroblastoma / metabolism*
  • Neuroblastoma / pathology
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase / genetics
  • Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Hif1a protein, mouse
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • RNA, Messenger
  • endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1
  • Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase
  • Oxygen