Regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α by nitric oxide through mitochondria-dependent and -independent pathways

Nitric oxide (NO) has been reported both to promote and to inhibit the activity of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). In order to avoid the pitfalls associated with the use of NO donors, we have developed a human cell line (Tet-iNOS 293) that expresses the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) under the control of a tetracycline-inducible promoter. Using this system to generate finely controlled amounts of NO, we have demonstrated that the stability of the α-subunit of HIF-1 is regulated by NO through two separate mechanisms, only one of which is dependent on a functional respiratory chain. HIF-1α is unstable in cells maintained at 21% O₂, but is progressively stabilized as the O₂ concentration decreases, resulting in augmented HIF-1 DNA-binding activity. High concentrations of NO (>1 µM) stabilize HIF-1α at all O₂ concentrations tested. This effect does not involve the respiratory chain, since it is preserved in cells lacking functional mitochondria (ρ⁰-cells) and is not reproduced by other inhibitors of the cytochrome c oxidase. By contrast, lower concentrations of NO (<400 nM) cause a rapid decrease in HIF-1α stabilized by exposure of the cells to 3% O₂. This effect of NO is dependent on the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, since it is mimicked by other inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration, including those not acting at cytochrome c oxidase. We suggest that, although stabilization of HIF-1α by high concentrations of NO might have implications in pathophysiological processes, the inhibitory effect of lower NO concentrations is likely to be of physiological relevance.