Hypoxia increases the rate of renal gluconeogenesis via hypoxia-inducible factor-1-dependent activation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase expression.

Although up to 25% of glucose released into circulation in the postabsorptive state comes from renal gluconeogenesis, the regulatory mechanisms of this process are still poorly recognized, comparing to hepatic ones. The aim of the present study was to examine if hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) might be involved in the regulation of glucose de novo synthesis in kidneys. It was found that HK-2 cells (immortalized human kidney proximal tubules, capable of gluconeogenesis/glycogen synthesis) cultured with gluconeogenic substrates either in hypoxia (1% O2) or in the presence of DMOG (an inhibitor of HIF-1α degradation) exhibited increased glycogen content. This phenomenon was not correlated with augmented glucose intake and the effects were reversed by echinomycin (an inhibitor of HIF-1 binding to HRE sequence). As concluded from the measurement of the intracellular content of gluconeogenic intermediates followed by Western blot analysis, under conditions of hypoxia/increased HIF-1 level the activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) was elevated, as a result of increased expression of the cytosolic isoform of PEPCK (PEPCK-C). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis proved HIF-1 ability to bind to the promoter region of PEPCK-C gene. The final conclusion that hypoxia/HIF-1 accelerates the rate of renal glucogenesis via the mechanism engaging activation of PEPCK-C expression might be useful in terms of e.g. diabetes treatment, as it is commonly accepted that under diabetic conditions kidneys and liver seem to be equally important sources of glucose synthesized de novo.

Melatonin Lowers HIF-1α Content in Human Proximal Tubular Cells (HK-2) Due to Preventing Its Deacetylation by Sirtuin 1.

Although melatonin is widely known for its nephroprotective properties, there are no reports clearly pointing at its impact on the activity of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), the main mediator of metabolic responses to hypoxia, in kidneys. The aim of the present study was to elucidate how melatonin affects the expression of the regulatory subunit HIF-1α in renal proximal tubules. HK-2 cells, immortalized human proximal tubular cells, were cultured under hypoxic conditions (1% O2). Melatonin was applied at 100 µM concentration. Protein and mRNA contents were determined by Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. HIF-1α acetylation level was established by means of immunoprecipitation followed by Western blot. Melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2 localization in HK-2 cells was visualized using immunofluorescence confocal analysis. It was found that melatonin in HK-2 cells (1) lowered HIF-1α protein, but not mRNA, content; (2) attenuated expression of HIF-1 target genes; (3) increased HIF-1α acetylation level; and (4) diminished sirtuin 1 expression (both protein and mRNA). Sirtuin 1 involvement in the regulation of HIF-1α level was confirmed applying cells with silenced Sirt1 gene. Moreover, the presence of membrane MT1 and MT2 receptors was identified in HK-2 cells and their ligand, ramelteon, turned out to mimic melatonin action on both HIF-1α and sirtuin 1 levels. Thus, it is concluded that the mechanism of melatonin-evoked decline in HIF-1α content in renal proximal tubular cells involves increased acetylation of this subunit which results from the attenuated expression of sirtuin 1, an enzyme reported to deacetylate HIF-1α. This observation provides a new insight to the understanding of melatonin action in kidneys.