Action of hypoxia‐inducible factor in liver and kidney from mice with P ax8‐rt TA‐based deletion of von H ippel‐L indau protein

S Mathia, A Paliege, R Koesters, H Peters… - Acta …, 2013 - Wiley Online Library
S Mathia, A Paliege, R Koesters, H Peters, HH Neumayer, S Bachmann, C Rosenberger
Acta physiologica, 2013Wiley Online Library
Abstract Aim Von H ippel‐L indau protein (VHL) provides the degradation of hypoxia‐
inducible factor (HIF). Tetracycline‐induced, P ax8‐rt TA‐based knockout of VHL (VHL‐KO)
affects all renal tubules and periportal hepatocytes and leads to sustained upregulation of
HIF. Here, we study the phenotype of VHL‐KO in both organs, the time course of changes,
and long‐term morpho‐functional outcome. Methods Mice with doxycycline‐induced VHL‐
KO and controls (CON) were followed for up to 9 months. Systemic and tissue parameters …
Aim
Von Hippel‐Lindau protein (VHL) provides the degradation of hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF). Tetracycline‐induced, Pax8‐rtTA‐based knockout of VHL (VHL‐KO) affects all renal tubules and periportal hepatocytes and leads to sustained upregulation of HIF. Here, we study the phenotype of VHL‐KO in both organs, the time course of changes, and long‐term morpho‐functional outcome.
Methods
Mice with doxycycline‐induced VHL‐KO and controls (CON) were followed for up to 9 months. Systemic and tissue parameters were evaluated using clinical chemistry, histology, immunohistochemistry, RT‐PCR and in situ hybridisation.
Results
At day 3 following VHL‐KO, substantial abundance of HIF‐1α and ‐2α was detected in the nuclei of hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelia. Hypoxia, induced by bleeding anaemia, did not further augment HIF signal. Erythropoietin mRNA was detectable in hepatocytes but not in the kidney. Vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA was upregulated in kidney but not in liver. At day 7 following VHL‐KO, the renal capillary density was enhanced, reaching its maximum at day 14. Blood haemoglobin increased constantly up to day 28 (23.3 vs. 15.8 g dL−1, VHL‐KO vs. CON). Thereafter, it was kept within the normal range by weekly blood collections. Pathological changes were absent from kidney and liver 9 months after VHL‐KO.
Conclusions
Inducible, Pax8‐rtTA‐based deletion of VHL leads to organ‐specific expression of epithelial HIF and erythropoietin in liver and kidney without causing pathological changes. Uniform, maximal and sustained HIF activation along the renal tubule may serve to study the potential benefits of hypoxia adaptation in experimental renal injury.
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