https://www.cell.com/molecular-cell/pdf/S1097-2765(08)00292-X.pdf

Oxygen Sensing by Metazoans: The Central Role of the HIF Hydroxylase Pathway

Hypoxia inducible factors and the response to hypoxic stress

Low levels of oxygen (O2) occur naturally in developing embryos. Cells respond to their hypoxic microenvironment by stimulating several hypoxia-inducible factors (and other molecules that mediate O2 homeostasis), which then coordinate the development of the blood, vasculature, placenta, nervous system and other organs. Furthermore, embryonic stem and progenitor cells frequently occupy hypoxic 'niches' and low O2 regulates their differentiation. Recent work has revealed an important link between factors that are involved in regulating stem and progenitor cell behaviour and hypoxia-inducible factors, which provides a molecular framework for the hypoxic control of differentiation and cell fate. These findings have important implications for the development of therapies for tissue regeneration and disease.

The role of oxygen availability in embryonic development and stem cell function.

The von Hippel-Lindau disease is caused by inactivating germline mutations of the VHL tumour suppressor gene and is associated with an increased risk of a variety of tumours in an allele-specific manner. The role of the heterodimeric transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) in the pathogenesis of VHL-defective tumours has been more firmly established during the past 5 years. In addition, there is now a greater appreciation of HIF-independent VHL functions that are relevant to tumour development, including maintenance of the primary cilium, regulation of extracellular matrix formation and turnover, and modulation of cell death in certain cell types following growth factor withdrawal or in response to other forms of stress.

The von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor protein: O2 sensing and cancer.

Vascular endothelial cells are ordinarily quiescent in adult humans and divide less than once per decade. When tumors reach a size of about 0.2-2.0mm in diameter, they become hypoxic and limited in size in the absence of angiogenesis. There are about 30 endogenous pro-angiogenic factors and about 30 endogenous anti-angiogenic factors. In order to increase in size, tumors undergo an angiogenic switch where the action of pro-angiogenic factors predominates, resulting in angiogenesis and tumor progression. One mechanism for driving angiogenesis results from the increased production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) following up-regulation of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor. The human VEGF family consists of VEGF (VEGF-A), VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and placental growth factor (PlGF). The VEGF family of receptors consists of three protein-tyrosine kinases and two non-protein kinase receptors (neuropilin-1 and -2). Owing to the importance of angiogenesis in tumor progression, inhibition of VEGF signaling represents an attractive cancer treatment.

/pdf/vascular-endothelial-growth-factor-vegf-signaling-in-tumor-3ps51j08v0.pdf

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling in tumor progression

PHD1, PHD2, and PHD3 are prolyl hydroxylase domain proteins that regulate the stability of hypoxia-inducible factor α subunits (HIF-α). To determine the roles of individual PHDs during mouse development, we disrupted all three Phd genes and found that Phd2−/− embryos died between embryonic days 12.5 and 14.5 whereas Phd1−/− or Phd3−/− mice were apparently normal. In Phd2−/− mice, severe placental and heart defects preceded embryonic death. Placental defects included significantly reduced labyrinthine branching morphogenesis, widespread penetration of the labyrinth by spongiotrophoblasts, and abnormal distribution of trophoblast giant cells. The expression of several trophoblast markers was also altered, including an increase in the spongiotrophoblast marker Mash2 and decreases in the labyrinthine markers Tfeb and Gcm1. In the heart, trabeculae were poorly developed, the myocardium was remarkably thinner, and interventricular septum was incompletely formed. Surprisingly, while there were significant global increases in HIF-α protein levels in the placenta and the embryo proper, there was no specific HIF-α increase in the heart. Taken together, these data indicate that among all three PHD proteins, PHD2 is uniquely essential during mouse embryogenesis.

Placental but not heart defects are associated with elevated hypoxia-inducible factor α levels in mice lacking prolyl hydroxylase domain protein 2

Background—Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1/Flt-1) is a potential therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases, but its role in angiogenesis remains controversial. Whereas germline Vegfr-1−/− embryos die of abnormal vascular development in association with excessive endothelial differentiation, mice lacking only the kinase domain appear healthy. Methods and Results—We performed Cre-loxP–mediated knockout to abrogate the expression of all known VEGFR-1 functional domains in neonatal and adult mice and analyzed developmental, pathophysiological, and molecular consequences. VEGFR-1 deficiency promoted tip cell formation and endothelial cell proliferation and facilitated angiogenesis of blood vessels that matured and perfused properly. Vascular permeability was normal at the basal level but elevated in response to high doses of exogenous VEGF-A. In the postinfarct ischemic cardiomyopathy model, VEGFR-1 deficiency supported robust angiogenesis and protected against myocardial infarction...

Elevated Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 Abundance Contributes to Increased Angiogenesis in Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1–Deficient Mice

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1)/Flt-1 is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor for VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and placental growth factor (PlGF). VEGFR-1 is an enigmatic molecule whose precise role in postnatal angiogenesis remains controversial. Although many postnatal and adult studies have been performed by manipulating VEGFR-1 ligands, including competitive binding by truncated VEGFR-1 protein, neutralization by antibodies, or specific ligand overexpression or knockout, much less is known at the level of the receptor per se, especially in vivo. Perplexingly, while VEGFR-1 negatively regulates endothelial cell differentiation during development, it has been implied in promoting angiogenesis under certain conditions in adult tissues, especially in tumors and ischemic tissues. Additionally, it is unclear how VEGFR-1 is involved in vascular maturation and maintenance of vascular quiescence in adult tissues. To facilitate further investigation, we generated a conditional knockout mouse line for VEGFR-1 and characterized angiogenesis in postnatal and adult mice, including angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium. We discuss these findings in the context of the interplay between VEGF family members and their receptors, and summarize various mouse models in the VEGF pathway.

https://opencommons.uconn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1275&context=uchcres_articles

Vivienne C. Ho

Papers

Placental but not heart defects are associated with elevated hypoxia-inducible factor α levels in mice lacking prolyl hydroxylase domain protein 2

Elevated Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 Abundance Contributes to Increased Angiogenesis in Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1–Deficient Mice

Vasculogenesis and Angiogenesis in VEGF Receptor-1 Deficient Mice