HIF isoforms in the skin differentially regulate systemic arterial pressure

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Oct 22;110(43):17570-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1306942110. Epub 2013 Oct 7.

Abstract

Vascular flow through tissues is regulated via a number of homeostatic mechanisms. Localized control of tissue blood flow, or autoregulation, is a key factor in regulating tissue perfusion and oxygenation. We show here that the net balance between two hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factor isoforms, HIF-1α and HIF-2α, is an essential mechanism regulating both local and systemic blood flow in the skin of mice. We also show that balance of HIF isoforms in keratinocyte-specific mutant mice affects thermal adaptation, exercise capacity, and systemic arterial pressure. The two primary HIF isoforms achieve these effects in opposing ways that are associated with HIF isoform regulation of nitric oxide production. We also show that a correlation exists between altered levels of HIF isoforms in the skin and the degree of idiopathic hypertension in human subjects. Thus, the balance between HIF-1α and HIF-2α expression in keratinocytes is a control element of both tissue perfusion and systemic arterial pressure, with potential implications in human hypertension.

Keywords: HIF-alpha; arginase; vascular tone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Arginase / genetics
  • Arginase / metabolism
  • Arterial Pressure / physiology*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Keratinocytes / cytology
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism
  • Regional Blood Flow / physiology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Skin / blood supply*
  • Skin / metabolism*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nos2 protein, mouse
  • Nos3 protein, mouse
  • Arg1 protein, mouse
  • Arg2 protein, mouse
  • Arginase