RNA interference targeting hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha reduces post-operative adhesions in rats

BACKGROUND: To investigate the use of RNA interference mediated gene down-regulation targeting hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) in an effort to prevent abdominal adhesion formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Real time PCR and a PAI-1 protein activity assay were used in vitro to determine the efficacy of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). For in vivo experiments, 57 white female rats were operated to generate ischemic and serosal injury to the uterine horns, and treated with saline, siRNA(Lamin A/C) (negative control), siRNA(HIF-1alpha), siRNA(PAI-1), or siRNA(HIF-1alpha) plus siRNA(PAI-1). The cationic polyer poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) was used as the delivery vehicle for all siRNAs delivered in vivo. Adhesions were analyzed by a blinded surgeon 8 days post-surgery. RESULTS: After in vitro transfection with siRNA, at least 69% gene down-regulation was obtained for all siRNAs tested. In vitro siRNA-mediated down-regulation of HIF-1alpha, PAI-1 or their simultaneous delivery resulted in a significant decrease of PAI-1 protein activity (at least P < 0.05). Administration of 4 nmol siRNA(HIF-1alpha)/PEI complexes after injury to the uterine horns achieved a statistical reduction of post-operative adhesion formation with a reduction by 52% (P < 0.05). Delivery of 4 nmol siRNA(PAI-1)/PEI complexes and the simultaneous delivery of 2 nmol siRNA(HIF-1alpha) plus 2 nmol siRNA(PAI-1), resulted in a reduction of abdominal adhesion by 36% and 42%, respectively, with the reduction being statistically significant when compared directly to the saline control (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These data show that administration of siRNA/PEI complexes within the peritoneal cavity can be used to prevent post-operative abdominopelvic adhesions.     

Phosphoinositid 3-kinase/Akt pathway involved in regulation of hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha in hypoxia ischemia brain damage of neonatal rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) protein and the activation of phosphoinositid 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway in neurons under hypoxia ischemia condition, and to elucidate the role of PI3K/Akt on HIF-1alpha regulation in the developing neurons after hypoxia ischemia brain damage (HIBD). METHODS: Fifty-six SD rats aged 10 days were randomly divided into normal control group (n=12), sham operation group (n=12), experimental group (n=24), wortmannin treated group (n=4) and DMSO/PBS treated group (n=4). In the experimental group, the rats were anesthetized with ethylether. The right common carotid artery was exposed and ligated. Then, they were exposed to hypoxia in a normobaric chamber filled with 8% oxygen and 92% nitrogen for 2.5 hours. In the sham control group, the right common carotid artery was exposed but was not ligated or exposed hypoxia. In the normal control group, the rats recevied no further processing. For wortmannin treated group and DMSO/PBS treated group, the rats received intraventricular injection of wortmannin or DMSO/PBS 30 minutes before hypoxia ischemia. The brain tissues were harvested from the rats in the normal control, sham operation and experimental groups at 4, 8 and 24 hours after hypoxia ischemia, but in the wortmannin and DMSO/PBS treated groups only at 4 hours. The HIF-1alpha protein expression and Akt protein expression were detected with immunohistochemistry method. HIF-1alpha, Akt and p-Akt protein expression were measured by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: In the experimental group, the HIF-1alpha expression was significantly increased at 4 hours after operation, reached the peak level at 8 hours, and began to decrease at 24 hours. The p-Akt protein was significantly increased at 4 hours, and began to decrease at 8 hours. However, the expression levels of HIF-1alpha and p-Akt protein in the normal control group were extremely low at each time point. So, the expression levels of HIF-1alpha in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the normal control groups (P < 0.01), the expression of p-Akt protein in the experimental group at 4 and 8 hours was significant higher than that in the normal control group (P < 0.05). The change of Akt protein in the experimental group was not time-dependent, and no significant difference was evident when compared with that of the normal control group (P > 0.05). Using wortmannin, the PI3K/Akt specific inhibitor, HIF-1alpha protein expression was significantly decreased when compared with the DMSO/PBS treated group and experimental group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the HIBD of neonatal rats may activate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and further induce the expression of HIF-1alpha, indicating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and HIF-1alpha could be a potential target for treatment of neonatal HIBD.     

Nutrition-induced catch-up growth increases hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha RNA levels in the growth plate

Although catch-up growth is a well-known phenomenon, the local pathways at the epiphyseal growth plate that govern this process remain poorly understood. To study the mechanisms governing catch-up growth in the growth plate, we subjected prepubertal rats to 10 days of 40% food restriction, followed by a renewal of the regular food supply to induce catch-up growth. The animals were weighed daily, and their humeral length was measured at sacrifice. The proximal tibial epiphyseal growth plates (EGPs) were studied, and findings were compared with EGPs from animals fed ad libitum and animals under food restriction. The gene expression profile in the growth plates was examined using DNA microarrays, and the expression levels of selected genes were validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. To localize gene expression in different growth plate zones, microdissection was used. Protein levels and localization were examined using immunohistochemistry. We showed that the expression level of 550 genes decreased during food restriction and increased during catch-up growth, starting already one day after refeeding. HIF-1alpha, as well as several of its downstream targets, was found among these genes. Immunohistochemistry showed a similar pattern for HIF-1alpha protein abundance. Additionally, HIF-1alpha mRNA and protein levels were higher in the proliferating than in the hypertrophic zone, and this distribution was unaffected by nutritional status. These findings indicate that nutrition has a profound effect on gene expression level during growth plate growth, and suggest an important role for HIF-1alpha in the growth plate and its response to nutritional manipulation.     

缺氧对肠上皮细胞缺氧诱导因子1α活化影响的实验研究

目的 了解缺氧对肠上皮细胞缺氧诱导因子1α(HIF-1α)活化的影响. 方法 将肠上皮细胞分为常氧处理(正常对照)、缺氧(设缺氧1、2、6、12、24 h)及缺氧+寡霉素处理(分别用浓度为5、10、20、40μg/mL寡霉素处理1 h,再缺氧6 h).采用蛋白质印迹法检测HIF-1α蛋白表达,免疫荧光法观察HIF-1α向细胞核转位的情况. 结果 与正常对照(0.08±0.07)相比较,缺氧1 h肠上皮细胞HIF-1α蛋白表达(0.52±0.30)即显著升高(P＜0.05),6 h达峰值(2.37±1.08,P＜0.05),同时HIF-1α向细胞核转位也明显增加.寡霉素呈剂量依赖性地抑制缺氧引起的肠上皮细胞HIF-1α蛋白表达增加,用5、10、20及40μg/,mL寡霉素处理的缺氧肠上皮细胞HIF-1α蛋白表达量分别为1.62±0.96、1.48±0.56、1.08±0.36及0.58±0.11,均较单纯缺氧6 h(2.67±1.38)显著降低(P＜0.05),HIF-1α向细胞核转位也被抑制. 结论 呼吸链抑制剂寡霉素可抑制缺氧肠上皮细胞HIF-1α活化,线粒体呼吸链可能在其发生机制中具有重要作用.     

结直肠癌中缺氧诱导因子1-α与FasL 表达相关性的研允

目的 探讨结直肠癌侵袭转移过程中缺氧诱导因子1-α(alpha,HIF-1α)与FasL表达的相关性.方法 采用分子克隆方法,将我室已构建的FasL-pcD-NA3.1(+)质粒与pcDNA3.1(一)质粒进行重组,得到新的FasL-pcDNA3.1(一)质粒并加以鉴定;通过脂质体转染法将空质粒、FasL-pcDNA3.1(+)与FasL-pcDNA3.1(一)质粒分别转染人直肠癌HR-8348细胞,构建侵袭力不同的结直肠癌细胞HR-8348L、HR一8348F和HR一8348As,未转染细胞HR一8348B为空白对照,应用Tran-swell,小室检测各组细胞的侵袭能力;采用化学缺氧法构建四组细胞的缺氧模型,Western blot方法定量检测缺氧0h、6h、12h及24h各组细胞内HIF-1α的表达.结果 FasL-pcDNA3.1(一)质粒符合要求,FasL片段大小约900bp,测序结果正确率99.2%;单层细胞体外侵袭实验见HR一8348F细胞穿透Transwell滤膜的细胞数目为(12.930±2.434),显著多于HR-8348B(8.133±1.959)、HR-8348L(7.670±2.093)和HR-8348As(7.870±1.685)细胞(P<0.05);Western blot检测示HIF-1α蛋白于120kD处显色,缺氧0h与6h,各组样品中HIF-α仅表达微量,HIF-1α水平无显著性差异(P>0.05);缺氧12h与24h,HR一8348F细胞内HIF-1α水平较0h和6h时明显增高(P<0.05),而HR-8348B、HR-8348L及HR-8348As细胞内HIF-1α表达与6h时无明显变化(P>0.05),HR-8348F细胞HIF-1α水平显著高于HR-8348B、HR-8348L及HR-8348As细胞(P<0.01).结论 缺氧环境中结直肠癌细胞FasL表达增强是除低氧分压外另一个诱导HIF-1α表达增高的因素,FasL与 HIF-1α水平呈正相关,高侵袭能力的结直肠癌细胞对缺氧的适应能力加强,促进肿瘤的远处转移.     

核酶基因抑制肝癌细胞低氧诱导因子-1α表达的实验研究

目的探讨靶向HIF-1α核酶基因对肝癌细胞HIF-1α表达的调控。方法采用脂质体介导的方法，将靶向HIF-1α核酶基因真核表达载体转染肝癌细胞Hep3B2，并予低氧条件诱导。于转染后48h采用Western Blotting检测Hep3B2细胞中HIF-1α蛋白的表达水平；荧光报告基因方法检测HIF-1转录活性。结果Hep3B2细胞低氧诱导后，HIF-1α蛋白表达水平、HIF-1转录活性增高（1．0±0．02），转染核酶基因400μmol／L后48h，Hep3B2细胞低氧诱导的HIF-1α蛋白表达水平明显下降，HIF-1转录活性下调（0．12±0．025，P〈0．05）。结论核酶基因可特异性抑制低氧诱导的肝癌细胞HIF-1α表达，降低其转录活性。     

缺氧诱导因子1α在肝癌细胞上皮-间充质化中的作用

目的:探讨缺氧诱导因子1 α(HIF-1 α)在肝癌上皮-间充质化(EMT)中的作用.方法:采用可调控HIF-1 α表达的肝癌HepG2Tet-on-HIF-1α细胞系,首先用real-time PCR与Western blot方法检测低氧环境中HepG2Tet-on-HIF-1α细胞EMT相关分子(E-cadherin,vimentin,FSP-1)及HIF-1 α的mRNA和蛋白表达水平,然后在常氧环境下,采用强力霉素(Dox)诱导HepG2Tet-on-HIF-1α细胞HIF-1 α过表达,以及HepG2Tet-on-HIF-1α细胞经Dox处理后再转染HIF-1αsiRNA,观察上述分子的表达情况.结果:低氧处理后,HepG2Tet-on-HIF-1α细胞EMT相关分子及HIF-1 α的mRNA和蛋白表达水平较常氧状态下均明显增加(均P＜0.05);常氧环境下,Dox能诱导HepG2Tet-on-HIF-1α细胞HIF-1 α过表达,同时明显增加EMT相关分子的mRNA和蛋白表达水平(均P＜0.05),但转染HIF-1αsiRNA后,Dox的诱导作用被取消.结论:HIF-1α促进HepG2细胞EMT,并可能是肝癌基因治疗的有效靶点.     

Erythropoietin protects the kidneys against ischemia reperfusion injury by activating hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha

BACKGROUND: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is closely associated with tissue damage in various organs, as well as in kidney transplants. Erythropoietin (EPO) has been shown to have a cytoprotective effect against hypoxia. We examined the effect of EPO against renal I/R injury and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells were cultured under hypoxic conditions with various EPO concentrations at 37 degrees C and examined the mechanism of cell proliferation by EPO. Moreover, to demonstrate the renoprotective effect in vivo, we treated Sprague-Dawley rats with 100 IU/kg EPO every 2 days for 2 weeks (a total of 6 doses). One day after the last injection, the operations to produce renal I/R injury (bilateral renal occlusion for 60 min) were done, and rats were killed at the end of the reperfusion period (24 hr and 72 hr after reperfusion began). RESULTS: First, we demonstrated in vitro that EPO increased hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) expression and stimulated proliferation of both cells under hypoxic conditions. Next, we demonstrated in vivo that EPO treatment increased the number of HIF-1alpha-positive cells, and markedly induced the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor messenger RNA. Using pimonidazole, a molecular probe that detects hypoxia, we found that EPO markedly attenuated tubular hypoxia, and reduced the number of terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive apoptotic cells and alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive interstitial cells. CONCLUSIONS: We suggested a novel HIF-1alpha induction pathway by EPO under hypoxic conditions. Thus, EPO may protect the kidneys against ischemia reperfusion injury by activating HIF-1alpha.     

HO-1活性变化对HIF-1基因表达的影响

目的：探讨血红素氧化酶1（HO-1）活性变化对缺氧诱导因子1（HIF-1）基因表达的影响及其可能机制。方法：利用乏氧培养箱建立胃癌细胞株的缺氧诱导模型,采用RNA干扰技术使HO-1基因沉默,设为转染组（Z组）;利用血晶素（Hemin）诱导使HO-1活性升高,设为Hemin组（H组）;对照组（D组）仅做乏氧培养。分别用RT-PCR和免疫组织化学技术测定各组HO-1和HIF-1的mRNA及蛋白质含量。结果：Z组HO-1和HIF-1的mRNA和蛋白质水平明显低于D组（P〈0.01）,而H组明显高于D组（P〈0.01）。结论：HO-1在接受HIF-1调节的同时,对HIF-1有正反馈的作用。这为今后利用RNA干扰等基因技术治疗恶性肿瘤提供了实验依据和理论基础。     

低氧诱导因子在生物医学中的作用

氧平衡在生物个体的生长和发育过程中具有重要的作用.细胞和组织为适应低氧调节转录子诱导多种基因参与到血管形成、铁代谢、葡萄精代谢和细胞的增殖及存活,而回应这些反应的要素因子是低氧诱导因子-1(hypoxia inducible factor-1,HIF-1).不断发展的生理学相关基因通过新的机制来降低细胞内氧浓度,上调感应和信号转导以触发HIF的低氧诱导转录活性.该途径最重要的是存在于所有的细胞和所有的真核生物中.现就HIF在生物医学中的作用作一综述.     

缺氧诱导因子-1α在去势前后大鼠腹叶前列腺中表达的变化

目的探讨与缺氧相关的缺氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)是否参与去势后前列腺萎缩过程.方法24只SD大鼠分为3组,其中A组(n=8)为假手术对照组,B组(n=8)为去势组,C组(n=8)为雄激素替代组(去势后肌注十一酸睾酮50mg/kg);术后3天处死,通过半定量RT-PCR检测与HIF-1α在去势前后前列腺表达变化.结果去势后大鼠前列腺的体积萎缩变小;雄激素替代组出现前列腺增生变大;对照组正常的大鼠前列腺有HIF-1 α mRNA低水平表达,去势组HIF-1α mRNA表达量增加,雄激素替代组HIF-1αmRNA表达量减少,与正常对照组比较,去势组的HIF-1α mRNA的表达量显著增加(P＜0.05),雄激素替代组的HIF-1αmRNA的表达量显著减少(P＜0.01).结论前列腺组织的缺氧参与去势后大鼠前列腺的早期萎缩过程.     

低氧诱导因子-1α在绝经后骨质疏松中调控作用的实验研究

目的探讨在绝经后骨质疏松的发生、发展过程中,低氧诱导因子-1α（HIF-1α）对于成骨细胞功能的调控作用。方法2004年10月至2006年5月,应用Cre—Loxp重组酶技术,建立成骨细胞条件性敲除HIF-1α小鼠,取3个月龄雌性野生型和敲除型小鼠各24只行卵巢切除术,术后0、4、8周取材行HE染色、四环素荧光双标记、Micro-CT、RT—PCR、Western-blotting检测。结果与野生型小鼠相比,敲除型小鼠骨小梁的数目、体积、厚度,骨密度,骨矿沉积速度,血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、RunX2、ALP、OC基因在mRNA水平的表达,VEGF、RunX2在蛋白水平的表达均明显降低,尤其以术后8周最为明显。结论在绝经后骨质疏松的发生、发展过程中,成骨细胞条件性敲除HIF-1α后成骨功能降低,HIF-1α能够调控成骨细胞的成骨功能。     

Experimental varicocele induces hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor expression and angiogenesis in the rat testis

PURPOSE: In this study we investigated hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and angiogenesis in an experimental model of varicocele in the rat testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated in 3 groups, namely varicocele group 1 (13), sham operated group 2 (9) and control group 3 (8). At 30 days after surgery was completed in groups 1 and 2 orchiectomy was performed in all rats. Histological findings in the left testicles of rats from each group were compared. HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression was immunohistochemically studied and CD31 panendothelial antigen was used to identify the number of microvessels, that is microvessel density (MVD), in paraffin embedded sections of testis tissue. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, 1-way ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test for post hoc comparison. RESULTS: HIF-1alpha expression was detected in 12 specimens (92.3%) in group 1, 4 (44.4%) in group 2 and 2 (25%) in group 3. The frequency of HIF-1alpha positivity in group 1 was significantly higher than the rates in groups 2 (p = 0.023) and 3 (p = 0.003). VEGF expression was detected in 8 specimens (61.5%) in group 1 but none of the group 2 or 3 specimens were VEGF positive. The frequency of VEGF positivity in group 1 was significantly higher than that in groups 2 (p = 0.006) and 3 (p = 0.007). Mean MVD +/- SD in group 1 was 7.53 +/- 1.50 (range 6 to 12), and findings in groups 2 and 3 were 5.88+/-1.45 (range 4 to 8) and 5.12 +/-1.12 (range 4 to 7), respectively. Mean MVD in group 2 was higher than in group 3 but this difference was not significant (p = 0.509). Mean MVD in group 1 was significantly higher than the mean values in groups 2 (p = 0.030) and 3 (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Previous study of experimental varicocele models in rats documented HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression combined with angiogenesis in the testis. The results of this study show that varicocele can lead to tissue hypoxia and related pathophysiological events, such as angiogenesis.