Hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha: effect on radiation sensitivity and differential regulation by an mTOR inhibitor.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF2alpha) on the sensitivity of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines to ionizing radiation and to determine if the mTOR antagonist, rapamycin, could decrease HIF2alpha protein levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Cell lines expressing stable short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) encoding HIF2alpha shRNAs or an empty vector were transfected with a hypoxia responsive element (HRE)-driven firefly luciferase reporter gene. Two separate paired cell lines were assayed for their response to increasing doses of ionizing radiation. Proliferation and cell cycle kinetics were compared for cell lines expressing HIF2alpha shRNAs and empty vectors. The effect of an mTOR antagonist, rapamycin on HIF1alpha and HIF2alpha proteins levels was also assessed.

RESULTS:

We confirmed that the 786-O RCC lines with stably integrated shRNAs against HIF2alpha had decreased activation of a plasmid with a HRE-driven firefly luciferase reporter gene. Lines from two separate cell clones with decreased HIF2alpha levels showed a significant increase in radiation sensitivity and an increase in G2 cell cycle arrest. Rapamycin, while effective in decreasing HIF1alpha protein levels, did not affect HIF2alpha levels in either of the RCC cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results show that decreasing levels of HIF2alpha leads to an increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation. This finding may explain in part, the known resistance of RCC to radiation therapy. Although mTOR antagonists are approved for the treatment of RCC, these agents do not decrease HIF2alpha levels and therefore might not be effective in enhancing the radio-sensitivity of these tumours.

• Authors: Rupal S Bhatt, Daniel M Landis, Michael Zimmer, Joelle Torregrossa, Shaoyong Chen, Vikas P Sukhatme, Othon Iliopoulos, Steve Balk, Glenn J Bubley
• Journal: BJU international (BJU Int) Vol. 102 Issue 3 Pg. 358-63 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 1464-410X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18394010 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
• Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
• Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
• endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1
• Luciferases
• Protein Kinases
• MTOR protein, human
• TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Sirolimus

Topics

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic (therapeutic use)
• Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors (drug effects, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Blotting, Western
• Carcinoma, Renal Cell (drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Cell Death (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Flow Cytometry
• G2 Phase (drug effects)
• Genes, Reporter
• Humans
• Kidney Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Luciferases (metabolism)
• Protein Kinases (drug effects)
• Radiation Tolerance
• Radiation-Sensitizing Agents (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Sirolimus (therapeutic use)
• TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases