Endothelial HIF-2α regulates murine pathological angiogenesis and revascularization processes

J Clin Invest. 2012 Apr;122(4):1427-43. doi: 10.1172/JCI57322. Epub 2012 Mar 19.

Abstract

Localized tissue hypoxia is a consequence of vascular compromise or rapid cellular proliferation and is a potent inducer of compensatory angiogenesis. The oxygen-responsive transcriptional regulator hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α) is highly expressed in vascular ECs and, along with HIF-1α, activates expression of target genes whose products modulate vascular functions and angiogenesis. However, the mechanisms by which HIF-2α regulates EC function and tissue perfusion under physiological and pathological conditions are poorly understood. Using mice in which Hif2a was specifically deleted in ECs, we demonstrate here that HIF-2α expression is required for angiogenic responses during hindlimb ischemia and for the growth of autochthonous skin tumors. EC-specific Hif2a deletion resulted in increased vessel formation in both models; however, these vessels failed to undergo proper arteriogenesis, resulting in poor perfusion. Analysis of cultured HIF-2α-deficient ECs revealed cell-autonomous increases in migration, invasion, and morphogenetic activity, which correlated with HIF-2α-dependent expression of specific angiogenic factors, including delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4), a Notch ligand, and angiopoietin 2. By stimulating Dll4 signaling in cultured ECs or restoring Dll4 expression in ischemic muscle tissue, we rescued most of the HIF-2α-dependent EC phenotypes in vitro and in vivo, emphasizing the critical role of Dll4/Notch signaling as a downstream target of HIF-2α in ECs. These results indicate that HIF-1α and HIF-2α fulfill complementary, but largely nonoverlapping, essential functions in pathophysiological angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Angiopoietin-2 / genetics
  • Angiopoietin-2 / physiology
  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Cell Hypoxia
  • Cell Movement
  • Cells, Cultured / cytology
  • Collateral Circulation / physiology*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Hindlimb / blood supply*
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / deficiency
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / physiology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology
  • Ischemia / physiopathology*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Receptors, Notch / physiology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / physiology
  • Recovery of Function
  • Skin Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Skin Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Wound Healing / physiology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Angiopoietin-2
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DLL4 protein, mouse
  • Hif1a protein, mouse
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1