Minocycline accelerates hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha degradation and inhibits hypoxia-induced neovasculogenesis through prolyl hydroxylase, von Hippel-Lindau-dependent pathway

Arch Toxicol. 2014 Mar;88(3):659-71. doi: 10.1007/s00204-013-1175-5. Epub 2013 Dec 1.

Abstract

Hypoxia-mediated stress responses are important in tumor progression, especially when tumor growth causes the tumor to become deprived of its blood supply. The oxygen-labile transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) plays a critical role in regulating hypoxia stress-related gene expression and is considered a novel therapeutic target. Lung adenocarcinoma cell lines were exposed to minocycline, followed by incubation at hypoxic condition for 3-6 h. Here, we show that minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline, can induce HIF-1α proteasomal degradation under hypoxia by increasing the expression prolyl hydroxylase-2 and HIF-1α/von Hippel-Lindau protein interaction, thereby overcoming hypoxia-induced HIF-1α stabilization. Neither repression of hypoxia-induced phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway nor inhibition of Hsp90 was required for minocycline-induced HIF-1α degradation. The HIF-1α degradation-enhancing effect of minocycline was evident in both cancerous and primary cells. Minocycline-pretreated, hypoxia-conditioned cells showed a clear reduction in hypoxia response element reporter expression and amelioration of vascular endothelial growth factor C/D (VEGF-C/D), matrix metalloproteinase 2, and glucose transporter 1 expression. By decreasing VEGF secretion of cancerous cells, minocycline could suppress endothelial cell neovasculogenesis. These findings suggest a novel application of minocycline in the treatment of tumor angiogenesis as well as hypoxia-related diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Hypoxia / drug effects
  • Cell Line / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1 / genetics
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / genetics
  • Minocycline / pharmacology*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Prolyl Hydroxylases / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / metabolism
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Glucose Transporter Type 1
  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • SLC2A1 protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
  • Prolyl Hydroxylases
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • VHL protein, human
  • Minocycline