Selective inhibition of MEK1/2 reveals a differential requirement for ERK1/2 signalling in the regulation of HIF-1 in response to hypoxia and IGF-1

The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) plays a pivotal role in tumour growth and progression, and HIF-1 is regulated through a number of signalling pathways. Here, we investigated the involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway in HIF-1 regulation. We found that overexpression of wild-type (WT) extracellular signal regulated protein kinase 1 (ERK1) greatly potentiated HIF-1 activation in hypoxia and HIF-1α induced in response to insulin growth-like factor 1 (IGF-1). Conversely, treatment of tumour cells with the MEK1/2 inhibitors PD98059 or U0216, or expression of a dominant-negative form of ERK1 blocked HIF-1 activation in hypoxia without affecting HIF-1α induction, localization or binding of HIF-1β. Interestingly however, the highly selective MEK1/2 inhibitor PD184352 did not inhibit HIF-1 activity or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced in response to hypoxia but blocked HIF-1α protein and HIF-1 activity induced by IGF-1 stimulation without affecting HIF-1α mRNA levels. Finally, we found that ERK5 phosphorylation status was not significantly affected by hypoxia in the presence or absence of PD184352. Taken together, our data suggest that although ERK1/2 signalling is important for HIF-1α induction and HIF-1 activity in response to IGF-1, it is dispensable for the induction of HIF-1α and activation of HIF-1 in response to hypoxia.