Stabilization of HIF-2α induces sVEGFR-1 production from tumor-associated macrophages and decreases tumor growth in a murine melanoma model

J Immunol. 2012 Sep 15;189(6):3168-77. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1103817. Epub 2012 Aug 6.

Abstract

Macrophage secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in response to hypoxia contributes to tumor growth and angiogenesis. In addition to VEGF, hypoxic macrophages stimulated with GM-CSF secrete high levels of a soluble form of the VEGF receptor (sVEGFR-1), which neutralizes VEGF and inhibits its biological activity. Using mice with a monocyte/macrophage-selective deletion of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α or HIF-2α, we recently demonstrated that the antitumor response to GM-CSF was dependent on HIF-2α-driven sVEGFR-1 production by tumor-associated macrophages, whereas HIF-1α specifically regulated VEGF production. We therefore hypothesized that chemical stabilization of HIF-2α using an inhibitor of prolyl hydroxylase domain 3 (an upstream inhibitor of HIF-2α activation) would increase sVEGFR-1 production from GM-CSF-stimulated macrophages. Treatment of macrophages with the prolyl hydroxylase domain 3 inhibitor AKB-6899 stabilized HIF-2α and increased sVEGFR-1 production from GM-CSF-treated macrophages, with no effect on HIF-1α accumulation or VEGF production. Treatment of B16F10 melanoma-bearing mice with GM-CSF and AKB-6899 significantly reduced tumor growth compared with either drug alone. Increased levels of sVEGFR-1 mRNA, but not VEGF mRNA, were detected within the tumors of GM-CSF- and AKB-6899-treated mice, correlating with decreased tumor vascularity. Finally, the antitumor and antiangiogenic effects of AKB-6899 were abrogated when mice were simultaneously treated with a sVEGFR-1 neutralizing Ab. These results demonstrate that AKB-6899 decreases tumor growth and angiogenesis in response to GM-CSF by increasing sVEGFR-1 production from tumor-associated macrophages. Specific activation of HIF-2α can therefore decrease tumor growth and angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dioxygenases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Dioxygenases / biosynthesis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / administration & dosage
  • Growth Inhibitors / biosynthesis
  • Growth Inhibitors / metabolism*
  • Growth Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / prevention & control
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, SCID
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / immunology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / prevention & control
  • Protein Stability
  • Solubility
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Growth Inhibitors
  • endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Dioxygenases
  • EGLN3 protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1