Normoxic Stabilization of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1A by Modulation of the Labile Iron Pool in Differentiating U937 Macrophages: Effect of Natural Resistance–Associated Macrophage Protein 1

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a transcription factor with major roles in many cellular and systemic responses to hypoxia. Activation of HIF pathways under hypoxia is mediated by suppression of the Feand O2-dependent HIF hydroxylase enzymes that normally inactivate HIFA subunits. Mechanisms underlying induction of HIF in normoxic conditions are less clearly understood. In human cancers, infiltrating macrophages show up-regulation of HIF and it has recently been shown that normoxic expression of HIF-1A is essential for macrophage function. Here, we report studies of HIF-1A induction following phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)–induced differentiation of monocytic U937 and THP1 cells. HIF-1A was markedly up-regulated under normoxia in this setting and this involved failure of HIF-1A prolyl hydroxylation despite the presence of O2. Fluorescence measurements showed that differentiation was associated with marked reduction of the labile iron pool. Both the reduction in labile iron pool and the up-regulation of HIF-1A were suppressed by RNA interference–mediated downregulation of the iron transporter natural resistance– associated macrophage protein 1. Up-regulation of HIF-1A following PMA-induced differentiation was also abolished by addition of Fe or ascorbate. These results indicate that physiologic changes in macrophage iron metabolism have an important effect on HIF hydroxylase pathways and suggest means by which the system could be manipulated for therapeutic benefit. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(5): 2600-7)