Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-prolyl hydroxylase 3 (PHD3) maintains high HIF2A mRNA levels in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
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ABSTRACT: Most clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) have inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL), resulting in the accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor ?-subunits (HIF-?) and their downstream targets. HIF-2? expression is particularly high in ccRCC and is associated with increased ccRCC growth and aggressiveness. In the canonical HIF signaling pathway, HIF-prolyl hydroxylase 3 (PHD3) suppresses HIF-2? protein by post-translational hydroxylation under sufficient oxygen availability. Here, using immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining, qRT-PCR, and siRNA-mediated gene silencing, we show that unlike in the canonical pathway, PHD3 silencing in ccRCC cells leads to down-regulation of HIF-2? protein and mRNA. Depletion of other PHD family members had no effect on HIF-2? expression, and PHD3 knockdown in non-RCC cells resulted in the expected increase in HIF-2? protein expression. Accordingly, PHD3 knockdown decreased HIF-2? target gene expression in ccRCC cells and expression was restored upon forced HIF-2? expression. The effect of PHD3 depletion was pinpointed to HIF2A mRNA stability. In line with these in vitro results, a strong positive correlation of PHD3 and HIF2A mRNA expression in ccRCC tumors was detected. Our results suggest that in contrast to the known negative regulation of HIF-2? in most cell types, high PHD3 expression in ccRCC cells maintains elevated HIF-2? expression and that of its target genes, which may enhance kidney cancer aggressiveness.
SUBMITTER: Miikkulainen P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6416423 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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