Manganese-mediated up-regulation of HIF-1α protein in Hep2 human laryngeal epithelial cells via activation of the family of MAPKs

High exposure of manganese is believed to be a risk factor for respiratory diseases. Evidence suggests that overexpression of HIF-1α transcription factor is linked to pulmonary inflammation and vascular change. In this study, we investigated the effect of manganese-chloride (manganese) on expression and activity of HIF-1α in various human airway cells, including Hep2 (laryngeal), H292 (bronchial), and A549 (lung). Profoundly, while manganese treatment led to low or little effect on induction of HIF-1α protein in H292 or A549 cells, it strongly induced HIF-1α protein expression in Hep2 cells. Mn treatment, however, did not induce HIF-1α mRNA expression in Hep2 cells. Luciferase experiments further demonstrated that manganese treatment increased the HRE-driven luciferase activity, suggesting that the induced HIF-1 is functional. Interestingly, manganese treatment also caused activation of p38 MAPK, JNK-1/2, ERK-1/2, and ATF-2, but not of PKB or NF-κB in Hep2 cells. Importantly, the manganese-mediated expression and activity of HIF-1α protein were largely blocked by treatment with the inhibitor of p38 MAPK (SB203580), JNK-1/2 (SP600125), or ERK-1/2 (PD98059), suggesting roles of these MAPKs in the manganese-induced HIF-1α protein expression and activity. Moreover, treatment with SP600125 or SB203580, but not PD98059, had partial inhibitory effects on the stability of HIF-1α protein induced by manganese, suggesting that p38 MAPK and JNK-1/2 also contribute to the Mn-mediated HIF-1α protein stability. These results suggest that manganese is able to up-regulate HIF-1α at the protein level in Hep2 cells and the up-regulation is largely dependent of activities of the family of MAPKs.