Clin Exp Reprod Med.  2012 Jun;39(2):73-80. 10.5653/cerm.2012.39.2.73.

Effects of hypoxia inducible factors-1alpha on autophagy and invasion of trophoblasts

• Choi JH
• Lee HJ
• Yang TH
• Kim GJ

• KMID: 1743694
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2012.39.2.73

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to determine the effect of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha on the cell death, autophagy, and invasion of trophoblasts.
METHODS
To understand the effect of HIF-1alpha, we inhibited HIF-1alpha using siRNA under normoxia and hypoxia conditions. Invasion assay and zymography were performed to determine changes in the invasion ability of HIF-1alpha. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to determine some of the signal events involved in apoptosis and autophagy.
RESULTS
There was no difference in cell death through the inhibition of HIF-1alpha expression by siRNA; however, the expression of LC3 and autophagosome formation increased. On the other hand, autophagy was increased, and the invasive ability of trophoblast cells decreased according to the inhibition of HIF-1alpha expression by siRNA. These experimental results mean that HIF-1alpha genes regulate the invasive ability of trophoblasts by increasing autophagy.
CONCLUSION
This study contributes important data for understanding the mechanism of early pregnancy implantation and the invasive ability of trophoblasts by defining the relationship between the roles of HIF-1alpha and autophagy.

Keyword

Placenta; Trophoblasts; Hypoxia; Invasiveness; Programmed cell death type II

MeSH Terms

Anoxia
Apoptosis
Autophagy
Blotting, Western
Cell Death
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Hand
Placenta
Pregnancy
RNA, Small Interfering
Trophoblasts
RNA, Small Interfering