The von Hippel-Lindau gene product inhibits renal cell apoptosis via Bcl-2-dependent pathways.

Previous studies have reported a protective role for the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene products against pro-apoptotic cellular stresses, but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we examined the role of VHL in renal cells subjected to chemical hypoxia, using four VHL-negative and two VHL-positive cell lines. VHL-negative renal carcinoma cells underwent apoptosis following chemical hypoxia (short-term glucose deprivation and antimycin treatment), as evidenced by morphologic changes and internucleosomal DNA cleavage. Reintroduction of VHL expression prevented this apoptosis. VHL-negative cells displayed a significant (greater than 5-fold) activation of caspase 9 and release of cytochrome c into the cytosol following chemical hypoxia. In contrast, VHL-positive cells showed minimal caspase 9 activation, and absence of cytochrome c release under the same conditions. Caspase 8 was only minimally activated in both VHL-negative and -positive cells. In addition, VHL-positive cells displayed a striking up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression (5-fold) following chemical hypoxia. Antisense oligonucleotides to Bcl-2 significantly down-regulated Bcl-2 protein expression in VHL-positive cells and rendered them sensitive to apoptosis. Overexpression of Bcl-2 in VHL-negative cells conferred resistance to apoptosis. Our results suggest that VHL protects renal cells from apoptosis via Bcl-2-dependent pathways.

Endoplasmic reticulum/cytosolic localization of von Hippel-Lindau gene products is mediated by a 64-amino acid region.

Inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor-suppressor gene causes both the familial cancer syndrome VHL disease and corresponding sporadic tumor types, including renal-cell carcinoma. Subcellular localization of VHL gene products was determined by indirect immunofluorescence. Both native and exogenously expressed VHL proteins displayed a cytoplasmic peri-nuclear immunostaining pattern, which co-localized with markers for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In addition, subcellular fractionation indicated that both native and exogenously expressed VHL products are found predominantly in the cytosolic compartment. Deletion analyses demonstrated that a 64-amino acid region of VHL (residues 114-177) is responsible for cytosolic as well as ER subcellular localization. Taken together, the immunostaining and biochemical fractionation studies suggest that VHL localizes to the cytosolic face of the ER. The relationship between VHL subcellular localization and VHL-associated ubiquitination was examined. Chimeric VHL-green fluorescent protein (GFP) products, which localized to the peri-nuclear region, were shown to undergo ubiquitination. VHL amino acids 114-177 were necessary and sufficient for this modification. Consistent with a role of VHL in ubiquitination, expression of VHL led to enhanced ubiquitination of cellular proteins, and amino acids 114-177 were also critical for this effect. Therefore, amino acids 114-177 were required for accurate VHL subcellular localization, ubiquitination of VHL-GFP products and VHL-dependent increases in cellular ubiquitination. Since mutations in this region of VHL are frequently detected in renal-cell carcinomas, these results suggest that proper VHL subcellular localization and associated ubiquitination functions may be necessary for VHL-mediated tumor suppression.

VHL induces renal cell differentiation and growth arrest through integration of cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix signaling.

Mutations in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene are involved in the family cancer syndrome for which it is named and the development of sporadic renal cell cancer (RCC). Reintroduction of VHL into RCC cells lacking functional VHL [VHL(-)] can suppress their growth in nude mice, but not under standard tissue culture conditions. To examine the hypothesis that the tumor suppressor function of VHL requires signaling through contact with extracellular matrix (ECM), 786-O VHL(-) RCC cells and isogenic sublines stably expressing VHL gene products [VHL(+)] were grown on ECMs. Cell-cell and cell-ECM signalings were required to elicit VHL-dependent differences in growth and differentiation. VHL(+) cells differentiated into organized epithelial sheets, whereas VHL(-) cells were branched and disorganized. VHL(+) cells grown to high density on collagen I underwent growth arrest, whereas VHL(-) cells continued to proliferate. Integrin levels were up-regulated in VHL(-) cells, and cell adhesion was down-regulated in VHL(+) cells during growth at high cell density. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1alpha, a transcription factor and global activator of proximal tubule-specific genes in the nephron, was markedly up-regulated in VHL(+) cells grown at high cell density. These data indicate that VHL can induce renal cell differentiation and mediate growth arrest through integration of cell-cell and cell-ECM signals.

The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene protects cells from UV-mediated apoptosis.

The familial cancer syndrome, von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, characterized by a predisposition to renal cell carcinoma and certain other tumor types, is caused by mutational inactivation of the VHL tumor suppressor gene. Loss of VHL gene function is detected also in the vast majority of sporadic renal cell carcinomas. Previous reports have determined a protective role for VHL in response to serum withdrawal and glucose deprivation. In this study, the effect of UV irradiation on VHL-negative and VHL-positive renal carcinoma cells was examined. VHL-negative 786-O renal carcinoma cells underwent apoptosis following UV irradiation. In contrast, reintroduction of wild-type VHL expression protected 786-O cells from UV-mediated cell death. p53 and Bax levels were equivalent in VHL-negative and VHL-positive 786-O cells. Strikingly, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27 underwent proteasome-dependent degradation in VHL-negative 786-O cells following UV treatment. However, p21 and p27 protein levels were stable in VHL-positive cells. Also, levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were elevated in VHL-positive cells, consistent with the protection from apoptotic stimuli. UV treatment led to increased S phase in VHL-negative, but not VHL-positive cells. Thus, following UV irradiation, diminution of p21 and p27 levels resulted in a hyperproliferative state in VHL-negative cells, leading to apoptosis. These results suggest that loss of VHL function promotes apoptosis and may provide selective pressure toward cells that are able to escape apoptosis, leading to tumorigenesis.

Elongin BC complex prevents degradation of von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene products.

Inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene causes the familial cancer syndrome, VHL disease, characterized by a predisposition to renal cell carcinoma and other tumor types. Loss of VHL gene function also is found in a majority of sporadic renal carcinomas. A preponderance of the tumor-disposing inherited missense mutations detected in VHL disease are within the elongin-binding domain of VHL. This region mediates the formation of a multiprotein VHL complex containing elongin B, elongin C, cul-2, and Rbx1. This VHL complex is thought to function as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Here, we report that VHL proteins harboring mutations which disrupt elongin binding are unstable and rapidly degraded by the proteasome. In contrast, wild-type VHL proteins are directly stabilized by associating with both elongins B and C. In addition, elongins B and C are stabilized through their interactions with each other and VHL. Thus, the entire VHL/elongin complex is resistant to proteasomal degradation. Because the elongin-binding domain of VHL is frequently mutated in cancers, these results suggest that loss of elongin binding causes tumorigenesis by compromising VHL protein stability and/or potential VHL ubiquitination functions.