Hypoxia/inflammation-induced upregulation of HIF-1 α and C/ EBP β promotes nephroblastoma cell EMT by improving HOXA11-AS transcription

Background: Homeobox (HOX) A11 antisense RNA (HOXA11-AS) has been identified as a cancer promoting lncRNA and is overexpressed in nephroblastoma. However, how HOXA11-AS is regulated in a hypoxic inflammatory environment has not been studied. Methods: In this study, gene expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) ability were detected in the nephroblastoma cell line WiT49 under conditions of hypoxia and inflammation. Next, HOXA11-AS transcription factors were predicted by datasets and subsequently confirmed by CHIP-QPCR, EMSA, and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Moreover, the regulatory relationships of HOXA11-AS and its transcription factors were further confirmed by rescue experiments. Results: Our results showed that a hypoxic microenvironment promoted HOXA11-AS expression and nephroblastoma progression, induced EMT, and activated the Wnt signaling pathway. Combined hypoxia and inflammation had a more substantial effect on nephroblastoma than either hypoxia or inflammation alone. HIF-1 alpha and C/EBP beta were confirmed to be the transcription factors for HOXA11-AS. Silencing of HIF-1 alpha or C/EBP beta downregulated HOXA11-AS expression and suppressed EMT and the Wnt signaling pathway in nephroblastoma cells exposed to a hypoxic or inflammatory microenvironment. HOXA11-AS overexpression partly reversed the effect of HIF1 alpha or C/EBP beta knockdown. Conclusion: We demonstrated that hypoxia/inflammation-induced upregulation of HIF-1 alpha and C/ EBP beta promoted nephroblastoma EMT by improving HOXA11-AS transcription. HOXA11-AS might be a therapy target for nephroblastoma.