Herpesvirus entry mediator regulates hypoxia-inducible factor–1α and erythropoiesis in mice
Yukimi Sakoda, … , Lieping Chen, Koji Tamada
Yukimi Sakoda, … , Lieping Chen, Koji Tamada
Published November 14, 2011
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2011;121(12):4810-4819. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI57332.
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Research Article Hematology

Herpesvirus entry mediator regulates hypoxia-inducible factor–1α and erythropoiesis in mice

Abstract

Erythropoiesis, the production of red blood cells, must be tightly controlled to ensure adequate oxygen delivery to tissues without causing thrombosis or stroke. Control of physiologic and pathologic erythropoiesis is dependent predominantly on erythropoietin (EPO), the expression of which is regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activity in response to low oxygen tension. Accumulating evidence indicates that oxygen-independent mediators, including inflammatory stimuli, cytokines, and growth factors, also upregulate HIF activity, but it is unclear whether these signals also result in EPO production and erythropoiesis in vivo. Here, we found that signaling through herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM), a molecule of the TNF receptor superfamily, promoted HIF-1α activity in the kidney and subsequently facilitated renal Epo production and erythropoiesis in vivo under normoxic conditions. This Epo upregulation was mediated by increased production of NO by renal macrophages. Hvem-deficient mice displayed impaired Epo expression and aggravated anemia in response to erythropoietic stress. These data reveal that HVEM signaling functions to promote HIF-1α activity and Epo production, and thus to regulate erythropoiesis. Furthermore, our findings suggest that this molecular mechanism could represent a therapeutic target for Epo-responsive diseases, including anemia.

Authors

Yukimi Sakoda, Sudarshan Anand, Yuming Zhao, Jang-June Park, Yingjia Liu, Atsuo Kuramasu, Nico van Rooijen, Ling Chen, Scott E. Strome, Wayne W. Hancock, Lieping Chen, Koji Tamada

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Figure 2

HM3.30 treatment induces erythropoiesis in peripheral blood.

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HM3.30 treatment induces erythropoiesis in peripheral blood. (A and B) W...
(A and B) WT mice were injected i.p. with 150 μg control Ig or HM3.30 and examined after 4 days. (A) Peripheral blood smears were prepared and stained by new methylene blue. Typical staining of residual RNA in reticulocytes is denoted by arrows. Representative images from at least 20 examined fields are shown. Original magnification, ×400. (B) Percent reticulocytes in PBMCs, assessed by flow cytometry using thiazole orange stain. Data are representative of 3 independently repeated experiments. Numbers denote the percentage of reticulocytes positively stained with thiazole orange in PBMCs. (C) Rag–/– mice were injected i.p. with 150 μg control Ig or HM3.30 on days 0, 5, 10, and 15 (n = 3 per group). On day 16, peripheral blood Hb level was measured. Data represent mean ± SD. *P < 0.05.