scholarly journals Systematic evaluation of the association between hemoglobin levels and metabolic profile implicates beneficial effects of hypoxia

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (29) ◽  
pp. eabi4822
Author(s):  
Juha Auvinen ◽  
Joona Tapio ◽  
Ville Karhunen ◽  
Johannes Kettunen ◽  
Raisa Serpi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Liver Weight ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Metabolic Profiles ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Chronic Activation ◽  
Surrogate Measure ◽  
Hif Pathway

Activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway reprograms energy metabolism. Hemoglobin (Hb) is the main carrier of oxygen. Using its normal variation as a surrogate measure for hypoxia, we explored whether lower Hb levels could lead to healthier metabolic profiles in mice and humans (n = 7175) and used Mendelian randomization (MR) to evaluate potential causality (n = 173,480). The results showed evidence for lower Hb levels being associated with lower body mass index, better glucose tolerance and other metabolic profiles, lower inflammatory load, and blood pressure. Expression of the key HIF target genes SLC2A4 and Slc2a1 in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, respectively, associated with systolic blood pressure in MR analyses and body weight, liver weight, and adiposity in mice. Last, manipulation of murine Hb levels mediated changes to key metabolic parameters. In conclusion, low-end normal Hb levels may be favorable for metabolic health involving mild chronic activation of the HIF response.

Role of the Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Pathway in Normal and Osteoarthritic Meniscus and in Mice after Destabilization of the Medial Meniscus

Cartilage ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 194760352095814
Author(s):  
Austin V. Stone ◽  
Richard F. Loeser ◽  
Michael F. Callahan ◽  
Margaret A. McNulty ◽  
David L. Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Medial Meniscus ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Early Time ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Inflammatory Stimuli ◽  
Hif Pathway

Objective Meniscus injury and the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway are independently linked to osteoarthritis pathogenesis, but the role of the meniscus HIF pathway remains unclear. We sought to identify and evaluate HIF pathway response in normal and osteoarthritic meniscus and to examine the effects of Epas1 (HIF-2α) insufficiency in mice on early osteoarthritis development. Methods Normal and osteoarthritic human meniscus specimens were obtained and used for immunohistochemical evaluation and cell culture studies for the HIF pathway. Meniscus cells were treated with pro-inflammatory stimuli, including interleukins (IL)-1β, IL-6, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, and fibronectin fragments (FnF). Target genes were also evaluated with HIF-1α and HIF-2α (Epas1) overexpression and knockdown. Wild-type ( n = 36) and Epas1+/− ( n = 30) heterozygous mice underwent destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery and were evaluated at 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively for osteoarthritis development using histology. Results HIF-1α and HIF-2α immunostaining and gene expression did not differ between normal and osteoarthritic meniscus. While pro-inflammatory stimulation significantly increased both catabolic and anabolic gene expression in the meniscus, HIF-1α and Epas1 expression levels were not significantly altered. Epas1 overexpression significantly increased Col2a1 expression. Both wild-type and Epas1+/− mice developed osteoarthritis following DMM surgery. There were no significant differences between genotypes at either time point. Conclusion The HIF pathway is likely not responsible for osteoarthritic changes in the human meniscus. Additionally, Epas1 insufficiency does not protect against osteoarthritis development in the mouse at early time points after DMM surgery. The HIF pathway may be more important for protection against catabolic stress.

scholarly journals Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Dependent Degeneration, Failure, and Malignant Transformation of the Heart in the Absence of the von Hippel-Lindau Protein

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 3790-3803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Lei ◽  
Steve Mason ◽  
Dinggang Liu ◽  
Yan Huang ◽  
Carolyn Marks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Myocyte ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Cardiac Tumors ◽  
Human Heart Failure ◽  
Von Hippel Lindau ◽  
Chronic Activation ◽  
Hif Pathway ◽  
Transcription Factor 1

ABSTRACT Hypoxia-inducible transcription factor 1 (HIF-1) and HIF-2α regulate the expression of an expansive array of genes associated with cellular responses to hypoxia. Although HIF-regulated genes mediate crucial beneficial short-term biological adaptations, we hypothesized that chronic activation of the HIF pathway in cardiac muscle, as occurs in advanced ischemic heart disease, is detrimental. We generated mice with cardiac myocyte-specific deletion of the von Hippel-Lindau protein (VHL), an essential component of an E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for suppressing HIF levels during normoxia. These mice were born at expected frequency and thrived until after 3 months postbirth, when they developed severe progressive heart failure and premature death. VHL-null hearts developed lipid accumulation, myofibril rarefaction, altered nuclear morphology, myocyte loss, and fibrosis, features seen for various forms of human heart failure. Further, nearly 50% of VHL−/− hearts developed malignant cardiac tumors with features of rhabdomyosarcoma and the capacity to metastasize. As compelling evidence for the mechanistic contribution of HIF-1α, the concomitant deletion of VHL and HIF-1α in the heart prevented this phenotype and restored normal longevity. These findings strongly suggest that chronic activation of the HIF pathway in ischemic hearts is maladaptive and contributes to cardiac degeneration and progression to heart failure.

scholarly journals Induction of the HIF pathway: Differential regulation by chemical hypoxia and oxygen glucose deprivation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia E. Novak ◽  
Susan M. Jones ◽  
J. Paul Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Glucose Deprivation ◽  
Oxygen Glucose Deprivation ◽  
Oxygen Levels ◽  
Chemical Hypoxia ◽  
Hif Pathway

AbstractThe Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) proteins are the master regulators in the cellular response to varying oxygen levels, including hypoxia. The HIF complex is stabilized and accumulates when oxygen levels drop through inhibition of a degradative enzyme. An active HIF complex can act as a transcriptional regulator of hundreds of genes. In turn, these genes determine the response of the cell by inducing pathways which can promote survival, or result in cell death. However, little is known about the regulation of the transcriptional process. We were interested in learning more about the time dependence of transcriptional activation in order to target those pathways which could enhance cell survival after ischemia. Using mouse hippocampal organotypic cultures (HOTCs), we compared oxygen-glucose deprivation with the hypoxia mimetic cobalt, which inhibits the oxygen dependent prolyl hydroylase and blocks degradation of the HIF proteins. We demonstrated that two of the most studied HIF target genes (VEGF, EPO) as well as HIF structural genes show complex time and dose-dependent expression patterns in response to the two different insults. Understanding of these molecular responses is crucial for the development of future treatments to enhance recovery from hypoxia and stroke.

Familial tumour syndromes: von Hippel–Lindau disease

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Kanno ◽  
Joachim P. Steinbach
Keyword(s):  
Target Genes ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Von Hippel Lindau ◽  
Vhl Protein ◽  
Von Hippel Lindau Disease ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Microsurgical Techniques ◽  
Vhl Disease ◽  
Hif Pathway

Von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease, an autosomal dominant familial tumour syndrome, is often associated with haemangioblastoma of the central nervous system. In the presence of oxygen, VHL protein serves to prevent the accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) protein by targeting it to the proteasomal pathway, while biallelic inactivation of the VHL gene blocks degradation of HIF and leads to constitutive activation of the HIF pathway although oxygen is present. HIF-target genes are involved in angiogenesis, proliferation, and metabolism enabling tumour growth. Haemangioblastoma is a highly vascularized, begin tumour commonly associated with a cyst, but it is linked with neurological morbidity and mortality based on its location and multiplicity. Haemangioblastoma in VHL is diagnosed according to symptoms and signs, past and family histories, laboratory data, neuroradiological findings, pathological findings, and genetic testing. Surgical treatment is usually the most recommended therapy for haemangioblastomas, and using well-defined microsurgical techniques, the majority can be resected safely.

scholarly journals Expression and Roles of Individual HIF Prolyl 4-Hydroxylase Isoenzymes in the Regulation of the Hypoxia Response Pathway along the Murine Gastrointestinal Epithelium

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4038
Author(s):  
Franziska Dengler ◽  
Sofia Sova ◽  
Antti M. Salo ◽  
Joni M. Mäki ◽  
Peppi Koivunen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Digital Pcr ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Therapeutic Needs ◽  
Gastrointestinal Epithelium ◽  
Hif Pathway ◽  
Powerful Mechanism

The HIF prolyl 4-hydroxylases (HIF-P4H) control hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), a powerful mechanism regulating cellular adaptation to decreased oxygenation. The gastrointestinal epithelium subsists in “physiological hypoxia” and should therefore have an especially well-designed control over this adaptation. Thus, we assessed the absolute mRNA expression levels of the HIF pathway components, Hif1a, HIF2a, Hif-p4h-1, 2 and 3 and factor inhibiting HIF (Fih1) in murine jejunum, caecum and colon epithelium using droplet digital PCR. We found a higher expression of all these genes towards the distal end of the gastrointestinal tract. We detected mRNA for Hif-p4h-1, 2 and 3 in all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Hif-p4h-2 had significantly higher expression levels compared to Hif-p4h-1 and 3 in colon and caecum epithelium. To test the roles each HIF-P4H isoform plays in the gut epithelium, we measured the gene expression of classical HIF target genes in Hif-p4h-1−/−, Hif-p4h-2 hypomorph and Hif-p4h-3−/− mice. Only Hif-p4h-2 hypomorphism led to an upregulation of HIF target genes, confirming a predominant role of HIF-P4H-2. However, the abundance of Hif-p4h-1 and 3 expression in the gastrointestinal epithelium implies that these isoforms may have specific functions as well. Thus, the development of selective inhibitors might be useful for diverging therapeutic needs.

Nuclear receptors in disease: the oestrogen receptors

2004 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 157-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Nilsson ◽  
Karin Dahlman-Wright ◽  
Jan-Åke Gustafsson
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Receptors ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Receptor Subtype ◽  
Target Tissue ◽  
Oestrogen Receptors ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The Family

For several decades, it has been known that oestrogens are essential for human health. The discovery that there are two oestrogen receptors (ERs), ERalpha and ERbeta, has facilitated our understanding of how the hormone exerts its physiological effects. The ERs belong to the family of ligand-activated nuclear receptors, which act by modulating the expression of target genes. Studies of ER-knockout (ERKO) mice have been instrumental in defining the relevance of a given receptor subtype in a certain tissue. Phenotypes displayed by ERKO mice suggest diseases in which dysfunctional ERs might be involved in aetiology and pathology. Association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ER genes and disease have been demonstrated in several cases. Selective ER modulators (SERMs), which are selective with regard to their effects in a certain cell type, already exist. Since oestrogen has effects in many tissues, the goal with a SERM is to provide beneficial effects in one target tissue while avoiding side effects in others. Refined SERMs will, in the future, provide improved therapeutic strategies for existing and novel indications.

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