Macrophage Oxygen Sensing Modulates Antigen Presentation and Phagocytic Functions Involving IFN-γ Production through the HIF-1α Transcription Factor

Low oxygen tension areas are found in inflamed or diseased tissues where hypoxic cells induce survival pathways by regulating the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF). Macrophages are essential regulators of inflammation and, therefore, we have analyzed their response to hypoxia. Marine peritoneal elicited macrophages cultured under hypoxia produced higher levels of IFN-gamma and IL-12 mRNA and protein than those cultured under normoxia. A similar IFN-gamma increment was obtained with in vivo models using macrophages from mice exposed to atmospheric hypoxia. Our studies showed that IFN-gamma induction was mediated through HIF-1 alpha binding to its promoter on a new functional hypoxia response element. The requirement of HIF-alpha in the IFN-gamma induction was confirmed in RAW264.7 cells, where HIF-1 alpha was knocked down, as well as in resident HIF-1 alpha null macrophages. Moreover, Ag presentation capacity was enhanced in hypoxia through the up-regulation of costimulatory and Ag-presenting receptor expression. Hypoxic macrophages generated productive immune synapses with CD8 T cells that were more efficient for activation of TCR/CD3 epsilon, CD3 zeta anti linker for activation of T cell phosphorylation, and T cell cytokine production. In addition, hypoxic macrophages bound opsonized particles with a higher efficiency, increasing their phagocytic uptake, through the up-regulated expression of phagocytic receptors. These hypoxia-increased immune responses were markedly reduced in HIF-1 alpha- and in IFN-gamma-silenced macrophages, indicating a link between HIF-1 alpha and IFN-gamma in the functional responses of macrophages to hypoxia. Our data underscore an important role of hypoxia in the activation of macrophage cytokine production, Ag-presenting activity, and phagocytic activity due to an HIF-1 alpha-mediated increase in IFN-gamma levels. The Journal of Immunology, 2009, 182: 3155-3164.