Objective: This study aimed at investigating the mechanism of NONO-TFE3 fusion regulating HIF1A as well as the role of HIF-1α in the progression of NONO-TFE3 tRCC under hypoxia.
Methods: Immunohistochemistry and Western Blotting assays were performed to profile HIF-1α expression in renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC) or in Xp11.2 tRCC. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), a luciferase reporter assay, and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to evaluate the regulation of HIF1A expression by NONO-TFE3 fusion. Then, the flow cytometry analysis, tube formation assays, and cell migration assays were used as well as glucose or lactic acid levels were measured to establish the impact of HIF-1α on the progression of NONO-TFE3 tRCC. Besides, the effect of HIF-1α inhibitor (PX-478) on UOK109 cells was analyzed.
Results: We found that HIF1A was the target gene of NONO-TFE3 fusion. In UOK109 cells, which were isolated from NONO-TFE3 tRCC samples, NONO-TFE3 fusion promoted aerobic glycolysis and angiogenesis by up-regulating the expression of HIF-1α under hypoxia. Furthermore, the inhibition of HIF-1α mediated by PX-478 suppressed the development of NONO-TFE3 tRCC under hypoxia.
Conclusion: HIF-1α is a potential target for therapy of NONO-TFE3 tRCC under hypoxia.