Upregulation of NAD(P)H oxidase 1 in hypoxia activates hypoxia-inducible factor 1 via increase in reactive oxygen species

• Published in: Free radical biology & medicine Vol. 36; no. 10; pp. 1279 - 1288
• Main Authors: Goyal, Parag, Weissmann, Norbert, Grimminger, Friedrich, Hegel, Cornelia, Bader, Lucius, Rose, Frank, Fink, Ludger, Ghofrani, Hossein A, Schermuly, Ralph T, Schmidt, Harald H.H.W, Seeger, Werner, Hänze, Jörg
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.05.2004
• Subjects: Catalase; Catalase - pharmacology; Cell Hypoxia; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Epithelial Cells - cytology; Epithelial Cells - drug effects; Epithelial Cells - enzymology; Free radicals; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) - genetics; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) - metabolism; Heme Oxygenase-1; Humans; Hypoxia-inducible factor 1; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Luciferases - metabolism; Lung - cytology; Lung - drug effects; Lung - enzymology; Membrane Proteins; NAD(P)H oxidase 1; NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases - metabolism; NADPH Oxidase 1; Nitric Oxide Synthase - antagonists & inhibitors; Onium Compounds - pharmacology; Oxygen sensing; Reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Up-Regulation; NAD(P)H oxidase 1; Hypoxia-inducible factor 1; Reactive oxygen species; Oxygen sensing; Free radicals; Catalase
• ISSN: 0891-5849; 1873-4596
• DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.02.071

Hypoxia sensing and related signaling events, including activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), represent key features in cell physiology and lung function. Using cultured A549 cells, we investigated the role of NAD(P)H oxidase 1 (Nox1), suggested to be a subunit of a low-output NAD(P)H oxidase complex, in hypoxia signaling. Nox1 expression was detected on both the mRNA and protein levels. Upregulation of Nox1 mRNA and protein occurred during hypoxia, accompanied by enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. A549 cells, which were transfected with a Nox1 expression vector, revealed an increase in ROS generation accompanied by activation of HIF-1-dependent target gene expression (heme oxygenase 1 mRNA, hypoxia-responsive-element reporter gene activity). In A549 cells stably overexpressing Nox1, accumulation of HIF-1α in normoxia and an additional increase in hypoxia were noted. Interference with ROS metabolism by the flavoprotein inhibitor diphenylene iodonium (DPI) and catalase inhibited HIF-1 induction. This suggests that H 2O 2 links Nox1 and HIF-1 activation. We conclude that hypoxic upregulation of Nox1 and subsequently augmented ROS generation may activate HIF-1-dependent pathways.