Hypoxia-independent upregulation of placental hypoxia inducible factor-1? gene expression contributes to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

ABSTRACT: Accumulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1? (HIF-1?) is commonly an acute and beneficial response to hypoxia, whereas chronically elevated HIF-1? is associated with multiple disease conditions, including preeclampsia, a serious hypertensive disease of pregnancy. However, the molecular basis underlying the persistent elevation of placental HIF-1? in preeclampsia and its role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia are poorly understood. Here we report that Hif-1? mRNA and HIF-1? protein were elevated in the placentas of pregnant mice infused with angiotensin II type I receptor agonistic autoantibody, a pathogenic factor in preeclampsia. Knockdown of placental Hif-1? mRNA by specific siRNA significantly attenuated hallmark features of preeclampsia induced by angiotensin II type I receptor agonistic autoantibody in pregnant mice, including hypertension, proteinuria, kidney damage, impaired placental vasculature, and elevated maternal circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 levels. Next, we discovered that Hif-1? mRNA levels and HIF-1? protein levels were induced in an independent preeclampsia model with infusion of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 14 (LIGHT). SiRNA knockdown experiments also demonstrated that elevated HIF-1? contributed to LIGHT-induced preeclampsia features. Translational studies with human placentas showed that angiotensin II type I receptor agonistic autoantibody or LIGHT is capable of inducing HIF-1? in a hypoxia-independent manner. Moreover, increased HIF-1? was found to be responsible for angiotensin II type I receptor agonistic autoantibody or LIGHT-induced elevation of Flt-1 gene expression and production of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 in human villous explants. Overall, we demonstrated that hypoxia-independent stimulation of HIF-1? gene expression in the placenta is a common pathogenic mechanism promoting disease progression. Our findings reveal new insight to preeclampsia and highlight novel therapeutic possibilities for the disease.

SUBMITTER: Iriyama T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4859813 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature