Detection of reactive oxygen species via endogenous oxidative pentose phosphate cycle activity in response to oxygen concentration: implications for the mechanism of HIF-1alpha stabilization under moderate hypoxia.

The oxidative pentose phosphate cycle (OPPC) is necessary to maintain cellular reducing capacity during periods of increased oxidative stress. Metabolic flux through the OPPC increases stoichiometrically in response to a broad range of chemical oxidants, including those that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here we show that OPPC sensitivity is sufficient to detect low levels of ROS produced metabolically as a function of the percentage of O2. We observe a significant decrease in OPPC activity in cells incubated under severe and moderate hypoxia (ranging from <0.01 to 4% O2), whereas hyperoxia (95% O2) results in a significant increase in OPPC activity. These data indicate that metabolic ROS production is directly dependent on oxygen concentration. Moreover, we have found no evidence to suggest that ROS, produced by mitochondria, are needed to stabilize hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) under moderate hypoxia. Myxothiazol, an inhibitor of mitochondrial electron transfer, did not prevent HIF-1alpha stabilization under moderate hypoxia. Moreover, the levels of HIF-1alpha that we observed after exposure to moderate hypoxia were comparable between rho0 cells, which lack functional mitochondria, and the wild-type cells. Finally, we find no evidence for stabilization of HIF-1alpha in response to the non-toxic levels of H2O2 generated by the enzyme glucose oxidase. Therefore, we conclude that the oxygen dependence of the prolyl hydroxylase reaction is sufficient to mediate HIF-1alpha stability under moderate as well as severe hypoxia.

p53 cannot be induced by hypoxia alone but responds to the hypoxic microenvironment.

Solid tumors frequently contain hypoxic subregions due to insufficient blood supply. In these domains, cells can undergo p53-dependent apoptosis. Therefore, hypoxia has been implicated as a physiological stimulus for p53 accumulation and activation. In such an environment, p53 mutant cells exhibit a selective growth advantage. Hypoxic regulation of p53 has been proposed to be hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) dependent; however, controversy remains over whether and to what extent low oxygen (O(2)) tension by itself enhances p53 protein stability. Here, we examined the p53 response to hypoxia and hypoxia mimetics in several cell lines expressing different HIF-alpha proteins. Most cells exhibited elevated levels of p53 in response to hypoxia mimetics such as deferoxamine mesylate and CoCl(2), regardless of their HIF-alpha protein expression profile. However, over a range of O(2) levels, from 1.5% to less than 0.02%, we failed to observe p53 accumulation or p53 nuclear translocation in any cell lines tested. Only after treatment with a combination of hypoxia and acidosis/nutrient deprivation did some cells exhibit p53 induction. Our results suggest that, although hypoxia induces p53 accumulation in vivo, secondary effects such as acidosis caused by a hypoxic Pasteur effect (instead of low O(2) by itself) are necessary for p53 accumulation. Therefore, the expression of HIF-1alpha and p53 proteins is not coupled during the cellular hypoxia response.

Radiosensitization of hypoxic tumor cells by dodecafluoropentane: a gas-phase perfluorochemical emulsion.

One method to make hypoxic, radioresistant cells more radiation sensitive has been to increase the oxygen carrying capacity of normal blood using liquid perfluorochemical emulsions combined with breathing high pO2 gases. We investigated the ability of dodecafluoropentane (DDFP) to sensitize the moderately radiation-resistant Morris 7777 hepatoma based on our previous inability to modify the radiation response of this tumor. DDFP is used in very small quantities compared with perfluorchemicals reported previously. Rats under isoflurane anesthesia were administered EF5 3 h before irradiation to monitor the pretreatment level of tissue hypoxia. At -40 min, DDFP was administered i.v. at 3.5 ml/kg over 30 min. At -10 min, the rats were either continued with air (for controls) or switched to carbogen. The tumors were then irradiated and processed for evaluation of radiation response. Tumor-cell survival for DDFP treatment with air-breathing animals was not significantly different from controls treated without DDFP. Carbogen alone provided minimal sensitization. DDFP plus carbogen caused dramatic radiosensitization, and the radiation response of cells from these tumors was the same as a completely aerobic radiation response. DDFP plus carbogen appears to completely reverse the hypoxic cell radioresistance in this tumor model.