Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) plays an important role in determining patterns of gene expression in cancer. HIF is down-regulated in oxygenated cells by a series of Fe (II) and 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenases that hydroxylate specific residues in the regulatory HIF-alpha subunits. Because these enzymes require ascorbate for activity in vitro we analyzed the effects of ascorbate on HIF in human cancer cell lines. Ascorbate at physiological concentrations (25 micro M) strikingly suppressed HIF-1alpha protein levels and HIF transcriptional targets, particularly when the system was oncogenically activated in normoxic cells. Similar results were obtained with iron supplementation. These results indicate that both ascorbate and iron availability have major effects on HIF, and imply that the system is commonly regulated by limiting hydroxylase activity under normoxic tissue culture conditions.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Cancer research

Publication Date

04/2003

Volume

63

Pages

1764 - 1768

Addresses

Cancer Research United Kingdom Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS.

Keywords

Tumor Cells, Cultured, Humans, Neoplasms, Adenocarcinoma, Breast Neoplasms, Ovarian Neoplasms, Prostatic Neoplasms, Ferrous Compounds, Ascorbic Acid, Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Endothelial Growth Factors, Transferrin, Monosaccharide Transport Proteins, Transcription Factors, RNA, Messenger, Lymphokines, Cell Hypoxia, Female, Male, Glucose Transporter Type 1, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit, Transcriptional Activation