Induction of HIF-2α is dependent on mitochondrial O2 consumption in an O2-sensitive adrenomedullary chromaffin cell line

Abstract

During low O2 (hypoxia), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-α is stabilized and translocates to the nucleus, where it regulates genes critical for survival and/or adaptation in low O2. While it appears that mitochondria play a critical role in HIF induction, controversy surrounds the underlying mechanism(s). To address this, we monitored HIF-2α expression and oxygen consumption in an O2-sensitive immortalized rat adrenomedullary chromaffin (MAH) cell line. Hypoxia (2–8% O2) caused a concentration- and time-dependent increase in HIF-2α induction, which was blocked in MAH cells with either RNA interference knockdown of the Rieske Fe-S protein, a component of complex III, or knockdown of cytochrome- c oxidase subunit of complex IV, or defective mitochondrial DNA (ρ0 cells). Additionally, pharmacological inhibitors of mitochondrial complexes I, III, IV, i.e., rotenone (1 μM), myxothiazol (1 μM), antimycin A (1 μg/ml), and cyanide (1 mM), blocked HIF-2α induction in control MAH cells. Interestingly, the inhibitory effects of the mitochondrial inhibitors were dependent on O2 concentration such that at moderate-to-severe hypoxia (6% O2), HIF-2α induction was blocked by low inhibitor concentrations that were ineffective at more severe hypoxia (2% O2). Manipulation of the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) had no effect on HIF-2α induction. These data suggest that in this O2-sensitive cell line, mitochondrial O2 consumption, rather than changes in ROS, regulates HIF-2α during hypoxia.