Carbon monoxide promotes VEGF expression by increasing HIF-1alpha protein level via two distinct mechanisms, translational activation and stabilization of HIF-1alpha protein.
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ABSTRACT: Carbon monoxide (CO) plays a significant role in vascular functions. We here examined the molecular mechanism by which CO regulates HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1)-dependent expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is an important angiogenic factor. We found that astrocytes stimulated with CORM-2 (CO-releasing molecule) promoted angiogenesis by increasing VEGF expression and secretion. CORM-2 also induced HO-1 (hemeoxygenase-1) expression and increased nuclear HIF-1? protein level, without altering its promoter activity and mRNA level. VEGF expression was inhibited by treatment with HIF-1? siRNA and a hemeoxygenase inhibitor, indicating that CO stimulates VEGF expression via up-regulation of HIF-1? protein level, which is partially associated with HO-1 induction. CORM-2 activated the translational regulatory proteins p70(S6k) and eIF-4E as well as phosphorylating their upstream signal mediators Akt and ERK. These translational signal events and HIF-1? protein level were suppressed by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), MEK, and mTOR, suggesting that the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MEK/ERK pathways are involved in a translational increase in HIF-1?. In addition, CORM-2 also increased stability of the HIF-1? protein by suppressing its ubiquitination, without altering the proline hydroxylase-dependent HIF-1? degradation pathway. CORM-2 increased HIF-1?/HSP90? interaction, which is responsible for HIF-1? stabilization, and HSP90-specific inhibitors decreased this interaction, HIF-1? protein level, and VEGF expression. Furthermore, HSP90? knockdown suppressed CORM-2-induced increases in HIF-1? and VEGF protein levels. These results suggest that CO stimulates VEGF production by increasing HIF-1? protein level via two distinct mechanisms, translational stimulation and protein stabilization of HIF-1?.
SUBMITTER: Choi YK
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2952213 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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