Regulation of the histone demethylase JMJD1A by hypoxia-inducible factor 1α enhances hypoxic gene expression and tumor growth

AJ Krieg, EB Rankin, D Chan… - … and cellular biology, 2010 - Taylor & Francis
AJ Krieg, EB Rankin, D Chan, O Razorenova, S Fernandez, AJ Giaccia
Molecular and cellular biology, 2010Taylor & Francis
The hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) directly and indirectly mediate cellular
adaptation to reduced oxygen tensions. Recent studies have shown that the histone
demethylase genes JMJD1A, JMJD2B, and JARID1B are HIF targets, suggesting that HIFs
indirectly influence gene expression at the level of histone methylation under hypoxia. In this
study, we identify a subset of hypoxia-inducible genes that are dependent on JMJD1A in
both renal cell and colon carcinoma cell lines. JMJD1A regulates the expression of …
The hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) directly and indirectly mediate cellular adaptation to reduced oxygen tensions. Recent studies have shown that the histone demethylase genes JMJD1A, JMJD2B, and JARID1B are HIF targets, suggesting that HIFs indirectly influence gene expression at the level of histone methylation under hypoxia. In this study, we identify a subset of hypoxia-inducible genes that are dependent on JMJD1A in both renal cell and colon carcinoma cell lines. JMJD1A regulates the expression of adrenomedullin (ADM) and growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) under hypoxia by decreasing promoter histone methylation. In addition, we demonstrate that loss of JMJD1A is sufficient to reduce tumor growth in vivo, demonstrating that histone demethylation plays a significant role in modulating growth within the tumor microenvironment. Thus, hypoxic regulation of JMJD1A acts as a signal amplifier to facilitate hypoxic gene expression, ultimately enhancing tumor growth.
Taylor & Francis Online