Interaction between PARP-1 and HIF-2α in the hypoxic response

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) mediate the transcriptional adaptation of hypoxic cells. The extensive transcriptional programm regulated by HIFs involves the induction of genes controlling angiogenesis, cellular metabolism, cell growth, metastasis, apoptosis, extracellular matrix remodeling and others. HIF is a heterodimer of HIF-alpha and HIF-beta subunits. In addition to HIF-1 alpha, HIF-2 alpha has evolved as an isoform that contributes differently to the hypoxic adaptation by performing non-redundant functions. Poly (ADPribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear protein involved in the control of DNA repair and gene transcription by modulating chromatin structure and acting as part of gene-specific enhancer/promoter-binding complexes. Previous results have shown that PARP-1 regulates HIF-1 activity. In this study, we focused on the cross-talk between HIF-2 alpha and PARP-1. By using different approaches to suppress PARP-1, we show that HIF-2 alpha mRNA expression, protein levels and HIF-2-dependent gene expression, such as ANGPTL4 and erythropoietin (EPO), are regulated by PARP-1. This regulation occurs at both the transcriptional and post-trancriptional level. We also show a complex formation between HIF-2 alpha with PARP-1. This complex is sensitive to PARP inhibition and seems to protect against the von Hippel-Lindau-dependent HIF-2 alpha degradation. Finally, we show that parp-1(-/-) mice display a significant reduction in the circulating hypoxia-induced EPO levels, number of red cells and hemoglobin concentration. Altogether, these results reveal a complex functional interaction between PARP-1 and the HIF system and suggest that PARP-1 is involved in the fine tuning of the HIF-mediated hypoxic response in vivo.