Role of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK in mediating hypoxia-induced expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in laser-induced rat choroidal neovascularization.

PURPOSE: The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 plays a central physiological role in oxygen and energy homeostasis and is activated during hypoxia by stabilization of the subunit HIF-1alpha. Hypoxia plays an important role in the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Expression of HIF-1alpha has been demonstrated in CNV. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most well-characterized angiogenic factors in CNV, which is under the regulation of HIF-1. The aim of the present study was to explore the upstream signaling pathways involved in regulating hypoxia-induced expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in laser-induced rat CNV.

METHODS: A well-established rat model of CNV and cultured human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE) was used to investigate the role of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways in regulating HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression in CNV in rat and hRPE under hypoxia by immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, real-time PCR, and ELISA.

RESULTS: pAkt, pERK, HIF-1alpha, and VEGF were upregulated in vivo and in vitro. PI3K inhibitor (Ly294002) significantly decreased pAkt activity and HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression in vivo and in vitro, whereas MEK inhibitor (PD98059) reduced ERK phosphorylation and the expression of VEGF but had no effect on HIF-1alpha. LY294002 and PD98059 severely inhibited the formation of CNV.

CONCLUSIONS: The PI3K/Akt pathway was required for hypoxia-induced expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF, whereas the MEK/ERK pathway was required only for VEGF in laser-induced rat CNV.