• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.487-493
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• 2018

Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), a cell surface receptor for hyaluronic acid (HA), is involved in aggressive cancer phenotypes. Herein, we investigated the role of the CD44 standard isoform (CD44s) in hypoxia-inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ ($HIF-1{\alpha}$) regulation using MCF7 overexpressing CD44s (pCD44s-MCF7). When pCD44s-MCF7 was incubated under hypoxia, levels of $HIF-1{\alpha}$, vascular endothelial growth factor, and the $HIF-1{\alpha}$ response element-derived luciferase activity were significantly increased compared to those in the control MCF7. Incubation of pCD44s-MCF7 cells with HA further increased $HIF-1{\alpha}$ accumulation, and the silencing of CD44s attenuated $HIF-1{\alpha}$ elevation, which verifies the role of CD44s in $HIF-1{\alpha}$ regulation. In addition, the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was higher in hypoxic pCD44s-MCF7 cells, and $HIF-1{\alpha}$ accumulation was diminished by the pharmacological inhibitors of ERK. CD44s-mediated $HIF-1{\alpha}$ augmentation resulted in two functional outcomes. First, pCD44s-MCF7 cells showed facilitated cell motility under hypoxia via the upregulation of proteins associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, such as SNAIL1 and ZEB1. Second, pCD44s-MCF7 cells exhibited higher levels of glycolytic proteins, such as glucose transporter-1, and produced higher levels of lactate under hypoxa. As a consequence of the enhanced glycolytic adaptation to hypoxia, pCD44s-MCF7 cells exhibited a higher rate of cell survival under hypoxia than that of the control MCF7, and glucose deprivation abolished these differential responses of the two cell lines. Taken together, these results suggest that CD44s activates hypoxia-inducible $HIF-1{\alpha}$ signaling via ERK pathway, and the $CD44s-ERK-HIF-1{\alpha}$ pathway is involved in facilitated cancer cell viability and motility under hypoxic conditions.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2014

Jumonji domain-containing proteins (JMJD) catalyze the oxidative demethylation of a methylated lysine residue of histones by using $O_2$, ${\alpha}$-ketoglutarate, vitamin C, and Fe(II). Several JMJDs are induced by hypoxic stress to compensate their presumed reduction in catalytic activity under hypoxia. In this study, we showed that an H3K27me3 specific histone demethylase, JMJD3 was induced by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-$1{\alpha}/{\beta}$ under hypoxia and that treatment with Clioquinol, a HIF-$1{\alpha}$ activator, increased JMJD3 expression even under normoxia. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses showed that both HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and its dimerization partner HIF-$1{\beta}$/Arnt occupied the first intron region of the mouse JMJD3 gene, whereas the HIF-$1{\alpha}/{\beta}$ heterodimer bound to the upstream region of the human JMJD3, indicating that human and mouse JMJD3 have hypoxia-responsive regulatory regions in different locations. This study shows that both mouse and human JMJD3 are induced by HIF-1.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.54.1-54.13
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• 2021

Background: Hypoxia causes oxidative stress and affects cardiovascular function and the programming of cardiovascular disease. Melatonin promotes antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the correlation between melatonin and hypoxia induction in cardiomyocytes differentiation. Methods: Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were induced to myocardial differentiation. To demonstrate the influence of melatonin under hypoxia, mESC was pretreated with melatonin and then cultured in hypoxic condition. The cardiac beating ratio of the mESC-derived cardiomyocytes, mRNA and protein expression levels were investigated. Results: Under hypoxic condition, the mRNA expression of cardiac-lineage markers (Brachyury, Tbx20, and cTn1) and melatonin receptor (Mtnr1a) was reduced. The mRNA expression of cTn1 and the beating ratio of mESCs increased when melatonin was treated simultaneously with hypoxia, compared to when only exposed to hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α protein decreased with melatonin treatment under hypoxia, and Mtnr1a mRNA expression increased. When the cells were exposed to hypoxia with melatonin treatment, the protein expressions of phospho-extracellular signal-related kinase (p-ERK) and Bcl-2-associated X proteins (Bax) decreased, however, the levels of phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) proteins, and antioxidant enzymes including Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and catalase were increased. Competitive melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole blocked the melatonin-induced effects. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that hypoxia inhibits cardiomyocytes differentiation and melatonin partially mitigates the adverse effect of hypoxia in myocardial differentiation by regulating apoptosis and oxidative stress through the p-AKT and PI3K pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2953-2958
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• 2015

Although associations between thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) and cancers have been recognized, the effects of TXNIP on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) prognosis remained to be determined in detail. In addition, while hypoxia is a key characteristic of tumor cell growth microenvironment, the effect of hypoxia on TXNIP expression is controversial. In this study, formaldehyde fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples of 70 NSCLC patients who underwent resection between January 2010 and December 2011 were obtained. Evaluation of TXNIP and hypoxia inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ ($HIF-1{\alpha}$) protein expression in FFPE samples was made by immunohistochemistry. By Kaplan-Meier method, patients with high TXNIP expression demonstrated a significantly shorter progression free survival (PFS) compared with those with low TXNIP expression (18.0 months, 95%CI: 11.7, 24.3 versus 23.0 months, 95%CI: 17.6, 28.4, P=0.02). High TXNIP expression level was also identified as an independent prognostic factor by Cox regression analysis (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.46; 95%CI: 1.08, 5.56; P=0.03). Furthermore, TXNIP expression was found to be significantly correlated with $HIF-1{\alpha}$ expression (Spearman correlation=0.67, P=0.000). To further confirm correlations, we established a tumor cell hypoxic culture model. Expression of TXNIP was up-regulated in all three NSCLC cell lines (A549, SPC-A1, and H1299) under hypoxic conditions. This study suggests that hypoxia induces increased TXNIP expression in NSCLC and high TXNIP expression could be a poor prognostic marker.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2010

Oxygen supply into inside solid tumor is often diminished, which is called hypoxia. Many gene transcriptions were activated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-$1{\alpha}$. Here, we investigated the effect of hypoxia on paclitaxel-resistance induction in HeLa cervical tumor cells. When HeLa cells were incubated under hypoxia condition, HIF-$1{\alpha}$ level was increased. In contrast, paclitaxel-mediated tumor cell death was reduced by the incubation under hypoxia condition. Paclitaxel-mediated tumor cell death was also inhibited by treatment with DMOG, chemical HIF-$1{\alpha}$ stabilizer, in a dose-dependent manner. A significant increase in intracellular ROS level was detected by the incubation under hypoxia condition. A basal level of cell density was increased in response to 10 nM $H_2O_2$. HIF-$1{\alpha}$ level was increased by treatment with various concentration of $H_2O_2$. The increased level of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ by hypoxia was reduced by the treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a well-known ROS scavenger. Paclitaxel-mediated tumor cell death was increased by treatment with NAC. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that hypoxia could play a role in paclitaxel-resistance induction through ROS-mediated HIF-$1{\alpha}$ stabilization. These results suggest that hypoxia-induced ROS could, in part, control tumor cell death through an increase in HIF-$1{\alpha}$ level.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2115-2120
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• 2012

The presence of lung cancer cells in anoxic zones is a key cause od chemotherapeutic resistance. Thus, it is necessary to enhance the sensitivity of such lung cancer cells. However, loss of efficient gene therapeutic targeting and inefficient objective gene expression in the anoxic zone in lung cancer are dilemmas. In the present study, a eukaryotic expression plasmid pUC57-HRE-JAB1 driven by a hypoxia response elements promoter was constructed and introduced into lung cancer cell line A549. The cells were then exposed to a chemotherapeutic drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (C-DDP). qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to determine the mRNA and protein level and flow cytometry to examine the cell cycle and apoptosis of A549 transfected pUC57-HRE-JAB1. The results showed that JAB1 gene in the A549 was overexpressed after the transfection, cell proliferation being arrested in G1 phase and the apoptosis ratio significantly increased. Importantly, introduction of pUC57-HRE-JAB1 significantly increased the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of A549 in an anoxic environment. In conclusion, JAB1 overexpression might provide a novel strategy to overcome chemotherapeutic resistance in lung cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.280-285
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• 2012

The developing embryo naturally experiences relatively low oxygen conditions in vivo. Under in vitro hypoxia, mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) lose their self-renewal activity and display an early differentiated morphology mediated by the hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$). Previously, we demonstrated that histone deacetylase (HDAC) is activated by hypoxia and increases the protein stability and transcriptional activity of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ in many human cancer cells. Furthermore HDAC1 and 3 mediate the differentiation of mECSs and hematopoietic stem cells. However, the role of HDACs and their inhibitors in hypoxia-induced early differentiation of mESCs remains largely unknown. Here, we examined the effects of several histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) on the self-renewal properties of mESCs under hypoxia. Inhibition of HDAC under hypoxia effectively decreased the HIF-$1{\alpha}$ protein levels and substantially improved the expression of the LIF-specific receptor (LIFR) and phosphorylated-STAT3 in mESCs. In particular, valproic acid (VPA), a pan HDACI, showed dramatic changes in HIF-$1{\alpha}$ protein levels and LIFR protein expression levels compared to other HDACIs, including sodium butyrate (SB), trichostatin A (TSA), and apicidin (AP). Importantly, our RT-PCR data and alkaline phosphatase assays indicate that VPA helps to maintain the self-renewal activity of mESCs under hypoxia. Taken together, these results suggest that VPA may block the early differentiation of mESCs under hypoxia via the destabilization of HIF-$1{\alpha}$.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.11 s.268
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• pp.828-837
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• 2006

Background: Tissue hypoxia is characteristic of many human malignant neoplasm, and hypoxia inducible factor-1(HIF-1) plays a pivotal role in essential adaptive response to hypoxia, and activates a signal pathway for the expression of the hypoxia-regulated genes, resulting in increasing $O_2$ delivery or facilitating metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. Increased level of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ has been reported in many human malignancies, but in non-small cell lung carcinoma the influence of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ on tumor biology, including neovascularization, is not still defined. In present study the relationship of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression on angiogenetic factors, relationship between the tumor proliferation and HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression, interaction of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression and p53, and relationship between HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression and clinico-pathological prognostic parameters were investigated. Material and Method: Archival tissue blocks recruited in this study were retrieved from fifty-nine patients with primary non-small cell lung carcinoma, who underwent pneumonectomy or lobectomy from 1997 to 1999. HIF-$1{\alpha}$, VEGF(vascular endothelial growth factor), and p53 protein expression and Ki-67 labeling index in tumor tissues were evaluated, using a standard avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex(ABC) immunohistochemistry. Relationship between the HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression and VEGF, p53 overexpression and correlation between the HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expresseion and Ki-67 index were analyzed. Clinico-pathologic prognostic parameters were also analyzed. Result: HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression in cancer cells was found in 24 of 59 cases of non-small cell lung carcinoma(40.7%). High HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was significantly associated with several pathological parameters, such as pathological TMN stage(p=0.004), pT stage(p=0.020), pN stage (p=0.029), and lymphovascular invasion(p=0.019). High HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was also significantly associated with VEGF immunoreactivity(p<0.001), and aberrant p53 expression(p=0.040). but was marginally associated with Ki-67 labeling index(p=0.092). The overall 5-year survival rate was 42.3%. The survival curve of patients with a high HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was worse than that of patients with low-expression(p=0.002). High HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was independent unfavorable factors with a marginal significance in multivariate analysis performed by Cox regression. Conclusion: It is suggested that high HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression may be associated with intratumoral neovascularization possibly through HIF-VEGF pathway, and high HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression could be associated with lymph node metastasis and post operative poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.227-231
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• 2005

The estrogen receptor (ER) is activated and degraded by estrogen. We have examined ER downregulation and activation under hypoxia mimetic conditions. Cobalt chloride induced ER downregulation at 24 h of treatment. This degradation involved hypoxia-inducible factor-1$\alpha$ (HIF-1$\alpha$) as examined by using a constitutively active form of HIF-1$\alpha$, HIF-1$\alpha$/VP16, constructed by replacing the transactivation domain of HIF-1$\alpha$ with that of VP16. Western blot analysis revealed that E2-induced ER downregulation was observed within ${\~}6h$, whereas HIF-1$\alpha$/VP16-induced ER degradation was observed within 12${\~}$20h. HIF-1$\alpha$/VP16 activated the transcription of estrogen-responsive reporter gene in the absence of estrogen. These results suggest that ER downregulation and activation under hypoxia maybe mediated in part by a HIP-1$\alpha$ expression.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.231-238
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• 2007

Evaluation of potentials of chemicals to alter expression of genes that are involved in carcinogenesis may serve useful tools in toxicological research. In this investigation, we developed reporter cell lines that expressed luciferase in response to transactivation of hypoxia inducible factor-1, P53 tumor suppressor and Nur77 of which roles have been well established in cancer development and progression. Whereas these reporter cell lines displayed low constitutive backgrounds, the reporter activities were significantly enhanced in response to $desferriosamine/CoCl_2$, adriamycin or 6-mercaptopurine, which are hypoxia mimicking chemicals, P53 activator or Nur77 inducer, respectively. The activation of the reporter was time- and dose-dependent. Known tumor initiators and promoters, such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and phorbol 12, 13-dicaprinate induced the reporter activity at as low as 10nM in these stable cell lines. Further, known anti-tumor promoters, such as ascorbic acid and ${\beta}-carotene$ repressed the reporter activities. These results indicate that our stable reporter cell lines could serve as a useful system for rapid assessment of carcinogenicity of toxic chemicals.