p38 Signaling-mediated hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor induction by Cr(VI) in DU145 human prostate carcinoma cells

J Biol Chem. 2002 Nov 22;277(47):45041-8. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M202775200. Epub 2002 Sep 3.

Abstract

Chromium(VI) (Cr(VI)) is widely used in industry and is a potent inducer of tumors in animals. The present study demonstrates that Cr(VI) induces hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) activity through the specific expression of HIF-1alpha but not HIF-1beta subunit and increases the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in DU145 human prostate carcinoma cells. To dissect the signaling pathways involved in Cr(VI)-induced HIF-1 expression, we found that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling was required for HIF-1alpha expression induced by Cr(VI). Neither phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase nor extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity was required for Cr(VI)-induced HIF-1 expression. Cr(VI) induced expression of HIF-1 and VEGF through the production of reactive oxygen species in DU145 cells. The major species of reactive oxygen species responsible for the induction of HIF-1 and VEGF expression is H(2)O(2). These results suggest that the expression of HIF-1 and VEGF induced by Cr(VI) may be an important signaling pathway in the Cr(VI)-induced carcinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Carcinoma
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Chromium / metabolism*
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / genetics
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Lymphokines / genetics
  • Lymphokines / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Oxidants / metabolism
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lymphokines
  • Oxidants
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Transcription Factors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Chromium
  • chromium hexavalent ion
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Catalase
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Oxygen