Players in Hypoxia-Driven Liver Cancer


Cancer 4 Hypoxia and intracellular Ca2+ transients are fundamental traits of cancer, whereas the route and regulation of Ca2+ mobilization in hypoxic tumorigenesis are unknown. 

Scientists in the journal Cell Reports show that stromal-interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), an ER Ca2+ sensor, correlates with elevated hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) in hypoxic hepatocarcinoma cells (HCCs) and is upregulated during hepatocarcinoma growth. 

HIF-1 directly controls STIM1 transcription and contributes to store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). STIM1-mediated SOCE is also required for HIF-1 accumulation in hypoxic HCCs via activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and p300. 

Administration of YC-1, a HIF-1 inhibitor, or knockdown of HIF1A significantly diminishes hypoxia-enhanced STIM1 and suppresses tumorigenesis. Moreover, ectopic expression of STIM1 or HIF-1α partially reverses impaired growth of tumors treated with YC-1. 

These results suggest a mutual dependency and regulation of STIM1 and HIF-1 in controlling Ca2+ mobilization and hypoxic tumor growth and highlight a potential target for early hypoxia-related intervention.
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