Lipopolysaccharide induces hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha mRNA expression and activation via NADPH oxidase and Sp1-dependent pathway in BV2 murine microglial cells

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), the key transcription factor of hypoxia-inducible genes, is known to be involved in inflammation and immune response, but little is known about the regulation of HIF-1 during microglial activation. Thus, we examined effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on HIF-1 activation and its signaling mechanism in BV2 microglial cells. LPS induced HIF-1α mRNA and protein expression as well as HIF-1 transcriptional activation. Moreover, HIF-1α knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreased LPS-induced expression of hypoxia responsive genes, VEGF, iNOS, and COX-2. We then showed that LPS-induced HIF-1α mRNA expression was blocked by an antioxidant, NADPH oxidase inhibitors, and siRNA of gp91phox, a subunit of NADPH oxidase. In addition, we showed that specific pharmacological inhibitors of PI 3-kinase and protein kinase C decreased LPS-induced HIF-1α mRNA expression. Finally, we showed that inhibition of transcription factor Sp1 by mithramycin A or Sp1 siRNA decreased LPS-induced HIF-1α mRNA and protein expression. Consistently, LPS increased Sp1 DNA binding and its transcriptional activity. Taken together, these results suggest that LPS induces HIF-1α mRNA expression and activation via NADPH oxidase and Sp1 in BV2 microglia.