HIF1α is a subunit of the transcription factor HIF1, together with HIF1β (Loboda, Jozkowicz, and Dulak 2010). HIF1α is part exclusively of HIF1 whilst HIF1β is part of other transcription factors as well as HIF1.
HIF1 is related to glucose metabolism, stimulation of circulation and it was first described in hypoxia conditions, but it is now known that it can be activated also in normoxia situations, acting especially in the polarization of immune cells to more inflammatory phenotypes (O’Neill, Kishton, and Rathmell 2016).
Structure
The N-terminal region of HIF1α contains a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) structure, that is responsible for the interaction with the hypoxia responsive elements (HRE) [5’-(G/C/T)-ACGTGC- (G/T)-3’] present in many enhancers regions of different genes, and a PERARNT-SIM (PAS) domain that are responsible for dimerization with HIF1β. HIF1β is also known as aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) (Loboda, Jozkowicz, and Dulak 2010).
HIF1α also contains a transactivation domain (TAD) that interacts with CREB binding protein (CBP) and p300, transcription co-activators. In sufficient O2 concentration (YANG et al. 2021), TAD can suffer hydroxylation by prolyl-hydroxylase (PHD) proteins, which inhibits the interaction between those co-activating factors and marks the subunit to ubiquitination by von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (VHL), part of the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, and consequently degradation in the proteasome. Other interactions with different groups can inhibit the activity of HIF1α as well (Watts and Walmsley 2019).
Function
HIF1α is one of the subunits of HIF1. HIF1 is a transcription factor that binds to HREs in the genome sequence and regulates genes involved in angiogenesis, vascular regulation, erythropoiesis, iron metabolism, cellular growth, apoptosis, extracellular matrix metabolism and glycolysis (Watts and Walmsley 2019). Although it was first described in hypoxia situations, it is now known to be active in normoxia situations as well (O’Neill, Kishton, and Rathmell 2016).
In hypoxia, the PHDs mark HIF1α to ubiquitination and consequently degradation in the proteasome complex. This process occurs when molecular oxygen (O2) is present (Watts and Walmsley 2019).
In immune cells, HIF1 can be activated in normoxia and its effect in the regulation of glycolysis is directly linked to their polarization, contributing to an inflammatory profile (O’Neill, Kishton, and Rathmell 2016).
Disease
Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are essential in the progression of various diseases, including cancer and conditions such as peripheral arterial disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and sleep apnea. They also play a significant role in regulating insulin signaling and obesity.
Under hypoxic conditions, HIFs are stabilized and activate the expression of genes related to cellular adaptation to oxygen deprivation. In the presence of oxygen, HIFs are degraded, but during hypoxia, they form active complexes and promote important cellular changes.
Hypoxia is a common feature in solid tumors and their metastases, leading to the activation of HIFs, which influence gene expression in both tumor cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. This affects tumor progression and treatment response.
In particular, HIF-1α is crucial in the initiation of certain types of cancer, such as clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), and is elevated in pre-neoplastic stages.
Structural highlights
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