Hypoxia-inducible factors in mantle cell lymphoma: implication for an activated mTORC1→HIF-1α pathway

Ann Hematol. 2011 Mar;90(3):315-22. doi: 10.1007/s00277-010-1070-6. Epub 2010 Sep 14.

Abstract

Aberrant activation of phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). We previously showed oncogenic activation of PI3K/Akt pathway in a subset of MCL patients. In this study, we investigated downstream the immunohistochemical expression of (Ser2448)pmTOR [indicative of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activation status] as well as of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF-2α), p53, and p21 in the same series of MCL patients. Additionally, correlation of these proteins with activated Akt ((Ser473)pAkt) and established histological prognostic factors was examined. Thirty-five tissue samples (28 classical type and seven blastoid variant) were included. The neoplastic cells expressed (Ser2448)pmTOR in 61.7%, HIF-1α in 73.5%, HIF-2α in 23.5%, and p53 in 18.2% of patients, while p21 was negative in all examined samples. In addition, 72% of patients who expressed HIF-1α had also (Ser2448)pmTOR expression (p = 0.041). HIF-1α expression was also correlated to an elevated (≥30%) Ki-67 (p = 0.031) and blastoid variant of disease (p = 0.017). In conclusion, we report for the first time common expression of HIF-alphas, especially HIF-1α, in MCL patients. Furthermore, an overall activation of mTORC1→HIF-1α axis and a potential role of (Ser2448)pmTOR in the regulation of HIF-1α in MCL patients are suggested. Finally, HIF-1α appears to be associated with more aggressive disease. A pathogenetic role for both mTORC1 and HIF-1α in MCL is implied, which will possibly lead to more efficient target therapies.

MeSH terms

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / etiology
  • Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / metabolism*
  • Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / pathology
  • Male
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Serine
  • Signal Transduction*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Proteins
  • endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1
  • Serine
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases