Influence of hypoxia on peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha and its mechanisms

Objective: To study the expressions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPAR-alpha) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) during different hypoxia states in lung cancer cell A549, and to investigate the mechanism of HIF-1alpha induced PPARalpha expression.

Methods: Firstly, lung cancer cells (A549) were divided into four groups: group A (control group); group B (hypoxia 24 h); group C (hypoxia 48 h); group D (hypoxia 72 h). The mRNA and protein of PPAR-alpha and HIF-1alpha were detected by RT-PCR and Western-blot on different groups. Secondly, the lung cancer cells (A549) were further divided into four groups: group E (control group); group F (antisense group); group G (sense group); group H (false-sense group). The influence of antisense oligonucleotide HIF-1alpha on PPAR-alpha was detected by RT-PCR and Western-blot.

Results: Comparing with group A, the expressions of the mRNA and protein of PPAR-alpha and HIF-1alpha increased significantly in group B, and reached peak in group D. Conversely, the expressions of the mRNA and protein of PPAR-alpha were decreased after antisense oligonuclei of HIF-1alpha in group F, as compared with group E.

Conclusions: The expressions of the mRNA and protein of PPAR-alpha and HIF-1alpha are increased by hypoxia, and PPAR-alpha may be regulated by HIF-1alpha.