Loss of ATM positively regulates the expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) through oxidative stress: Role in the physiopathology of the disease

Cell Cycle. 2010 Jul 15;9(14):2814-22. doi: 10.4161/cc.9.14.12248. Epub 2010 Jul 3.

Abstract

Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a wide variety of progressive clinical symptoms. This includes neuronal degeneration, oculocutaneous telangiectasias, diabetes mellitus, immunodeficiency, increased risk of cancer and sensitivity to ionizing radiation. The gene mutated in this disease, ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated), encodes a protein kinase involved in DNA double strand breaks signalling and repair. ATM deficient cells also display an increase in oxidative stress, by poorly characterized mechanism(s), which clearly contributes to the neurodegenerative aspect of the disease. Despite these advances, the occurrence of the vascular abnormalities, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance remains poorly understood. In different cellular models where ATM expression was disrupted, we demonstrated that the absence of ATM leads to an increased expression of both subunits of the transcription factor Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 (HIF-1). We also observed enhanced trans-activating functions of HIF-1. HIF-1 is the central regulator of responses to hypoxia which induces the transcription of genes involved in angiogenesis (e.g., VEGF-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) and cellular metabolism (e.g., GLUT-1). Interestingly, we demonstrated that ATM disruption positively regulates both expression and function of the basal glucose transporter GLUT-1 as well as the proangiogenic factor, VEGF. In addition, our results suggest that the absence of ATM increases HIF-1 proteins biosynthesis, and this effect is dependant on the oxidative stress existing in ATM deficient cells. Our compelling results highlight a new link between ATM deficiency and the clinical features of the disease and provide a molecular link between ATM downregulation and the increase in tumor angiogenesis observed in human breast cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ataxia Telangiectasia / etiology*
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / deficiency
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1 / genetics
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1 / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / metabolism*
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / deficiency
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / deficiency
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • ATM protein, human
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases