Loss of HIF-1α accelerates murine FLT-3(ITD)-induced myeloproliferative neoplasia

Leukemia. 2015 Dec;29(12):2366-74. doi: 10.1038/leu.2015.156. Epub 2015 Jun 24.

Abstract

Hypoxia-induced signaling is important for normal and malignant hematopoiesis. The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) has a crucial role in quiescence and self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), as well as leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) of acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia. We have investigated the effect of HIF-1α loss on the phenotype and biology of FLT-3(ITD)-induced myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). Using transgenic mouse models, we show that deletion of HIF-1α leads to an enhanced MPN phenotype reflected by an increased number of white blood cells, more severe splenomegaly and decreased survival. The proliferative effect of HIF-1α loss is cell intrinsic as shown by transplantation into recipient mice. HSC loss and organ-specific changes in the number and percentage of long-term HSCs were the most pronounced effects on a cellular level after HIF-1α deletion. Furthermore, we found a metabolic hyperactivation of malignant cells in the spleen upon loss of HIF-1α. Some of our findings are in contrary to what has been previously described for the role of HIF-1α in other myeloid hematologic malignancies and question the potential of HIF-1α as a therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / etiology*
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / metabolism
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / pathology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / genetics*

Substances

  • Hif1a protein, mouse
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Flt3 protein, mouse
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3