Hypoxic areas are a common feature of rapidly growing malignant tumors and their metastases. Tissue hypoxia due to inadequate blood supply is supposed to occur very early during tumor development beginning at a tumor diameter of a few millimeter 123. Interestingly, even after neovascularization oxygen supply generally stays behind the demands of the tumor, and thus, hypoxia remains a constant feature of these tumors 3. Hypoxia not only accounts for tissue necrosis but has also an strong impact on tumor cell biology 4. In particular, tissue hypoxia contributes to tumor progression in a variety of ways [for review, see 45]. Thus, the hypoxic tumor cell response is of paramount importance for the understanding of tumor progression.

Up to now, in eukaryotic cells a cellular sensor for hypoxia has not been identified. However, some of the downstream effector pathways, including intracellular signal transduction cascades, which interfered with gene regulation under hypoxia, had been identified. In particular, members of the family of mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases were shown to be involved in the transduction of the hypoxic signal 678. Among the genes which were induced by hypoxia, and might even be dramatically upregulated, recent interest focused on those involved in tumor angiogenesis. However, hypoxia was not only of importance for angiogenesis-induction, but also exerted effects on cell-cell and cell extracellular matrix interaction. It had been shown that hypoxia/aglycemia downregulated E-cadherin in brain microvessel endothelial cells 9. Since loss of cell-cell contact mediated via cadherins had been regarded as an initial step during tumor progression this phenomenon might be of relevance for hypoxic induction of tumor progression.

Tumor hypoxia also selects for gene mutations in tumor cells. In particular, mutations occurred in genes involved in the process of apoptosis. It could be shown that repeated exposure to low oxygen tension selected for p53 mutations and rendered tumor cells resistant to hypoxia-induced apoptosis 10. It is further well documented that low oxygen tension confers resistance of tumors to irradiation therapy and may thereby contribute to tumor aggressiveness [for review, see 4].

This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms involved in hypoxic signal transduction, gene regulation, angiogenesis factor production and apoptosis regulation in tumor cells. A better understanding of these processes might open perspectives for future tumor therapy.

Extracellular stimuli that interfere with gene expression and gene regulation are mediated by different intracellular signalling cascades [for review, see 1112]. One of the most intensively studied signalling pathway is the mitogenic Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade, which responds to growth factors and factors inducing cellular differentiation, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) 13 (Fig. 1). Downstream targets of this cascade are well-known transcription factors such as AP-1, CREP and Elk. Parallel organized kinase cascades which particularly respond to cellular stresses, such as cellular injury by heat, UV and ionizing irradiation, and osmotic shock have been identified [for review, see 1415]. However, these cascades also respond to inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Members of these pathways are the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK, also termed c-Jun N-terminal kinases, JNK) and the p38 kinase (Fig. 1).

Since hypoxia is a typical stress factor for rapidly growing tumor cells, it was tempting to speculate, whether hypoxia might induce JNK/SAPK and/or p38 activation in tumors. Indeed, it could be shown that hypoxia and hypoxia/reoxygenation signalling involved members of the MAP family of signalling kinases 678. Hypoxia activated the JNK/SAPK and p38 stress kinases in human squamous carcinoma cells in vitro 7. This activation further led to a phosphorylation/activation of ATF-2 transcription factor. Moreover, in this study hypoxia-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase (MKP)-1 mRNA expression and MKP-1 activity. MKP-1 antagonizes SAPK activity and its enhanced expression/activity under hypoxia had been regarded as one possible explanation for the rapid decline of JNK/SAPK activity after 4 hours 7.

We were able to show that stress activated protein kinase, JNK/SAPK, was activated under hypoxia in low aggressive melanoma cells 8. Interestingly, low aggressive melanoma cell lines showed strong hypoxia-inducibility, while highly aggressive melanoma cell lines were much less responsive 8. Thus, responsiveness of MAPK signalling pathways to hypoxia might be a tumor stage-dependent phenomenon. In further experiments, it could be shown that JNK/SAPK activation was involved in apoptosis regulation in low aggressive melanoma cells 8. One feasible explanation for a tumor-stage dependent JNK/SAPK activation might be that late-stage tumor cells often show an independent, deregulated growth. Thus, the "classic" hypoxic signal transduction involving JNK/SAPK might be lost in these cells.

In rat cardiac myocytes hypoxia induced the redistribution of specific protein kinase C isoforms from the soluble to the particulate compartiment. These findings were suggestive for an activation of protein kinase C pathways under hypoxia 16. In this study, inhibition of phospholipase C prevented protein kinase C redistribution. It is well accepted that protein kinase C isoforms are able to activate the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signalling pathway on the level of the Ras GTPase and Raf kinase. Thus, hypoxic signalling might involve protein kinase C as a possible link to MAPK signalling pathways. We were able to show that hypoxia activated p38 signalling pathways in low aggressive melanoma cells 17. P38 activation was also observed under hypoxia/reoxygenation conditions in these cells. The physiological relevance of these findings, however, remains to be defined. However, it had been suggested that activation of p38 under hypoxia might be involved in apoptosis regulation, since it had been shown that p38 mediated apoptosis under conditions of oxidative stress 18.

One of the main downstream targets of JNK/SAPK kinase signalling is cJun, a well known member of the Jun/Fos family of transcription factors. Both, cJun and cFos may act as oncogenes and heterodimerize to form the transcriptional active complex, activator protein (AP)-1 1219. Hypoxic activation of JNK/SAPK has been shown to be able to induce cJun dependent transcription 8. The role of AP-1 in hypoxia-induced gene regulation is described in more detail in the chapter about transcription factors.

Little is known about the hypoxic induction of members of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signalling pathway. Interestingly, however, BRAF knockout mice suffer from an impaired development of the vascular system 20. Vascular malformation on the other hand has also been described in mice lacking the arylcarbon nuclear translocator (ARNT), the heterodimeric partner of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α 21. Thus, although largely speculative at present, hypoxic signalling might also interfere with the Raf kinase cascade at least during embryonic development. Involvement of Braf in hypoxic signalling might be of special importance for tumor growth since activating gene mutations in the BRAF gene have been demonstrated in a variety of different tumors 22.

The role of further upstream signalling molecules of MAP kinases, such as members of the family of Rho and Ras GTPases, has been described in oncogene signalling in various tumors 23. Although, Ras mutations have been shown to play an outstanding role in the pathogenesis of epithelial tumors these mutations have not been identified in significant percentages in other tumors 24. A direct activation of Ras by hypoxia has not been shown up to now. However, it could be shown in in vitro luciferase experiments that cells plated at high cell density (which induces pericellular hypoxia) activated the hypoxia response element 25. In transfection studies, this activation could be inhibited by a dominant negative interfering Ras mutant and nitric oxide inhibitors. Moreover, the action of nitric oxide could be placed upstream of the Ras signalling pathway 25. These findings suggest an indirect activation of Ras in hypoxic signalling via nitric oxide. In accordance with these findings, it had been shown that ERK – a further downstream effector molecule of Ras signalling-phosphorylated hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α and thus contributed to enhanced VEGF expression under hypoxic conditions 26.

Another possible upstream activator of MAPK signalling pathways, the Rho GTPase RhoC, has been identified as a molecule that might confer high aggressiveness on malignant melanoma 27. By use of DNA chip technology, RhoC was identified as one of the most interesting target genes which showed enhanced expression in highly aggressive, metastasizing melanoma cells compared with their low aggressive, non-metastasizing counterparts. The functional relevance of these findings was further demonstrated in a mouse metastasis model and in matrigel assays using RhoC transfected melanoma cells. However, the question whether hypoxia influences Rho GTPases activity in tumors has not been addressed up to now.

It is well established that hypoxia induces gene expression and the number of hypoxia-inducible genes is increasing steadily. In response to hypoxia, eukaryotic cells show expression of genes which are involved in cellular metabolism (e.g. anaerobic glycolysis), erythropoiesis, cellular proliferation and survival, and vascular biology [for review, see 28]. One major discovery in recent years was the identification and characterization of the transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α 29. HIF-1α dependent gene activation is of central importance for a series of hypoxia-inducible genes, e.g. erythropoietin, lactate dehydrogenase A and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [for review, see 283032]. After the initial description of HIF-1α the molecular mechanisms that interfere with HIF-1α gene expression, protein stability, and DNA binding have attracted great interest, as interference with these mechanisms might open perspectives for new treatment strategies for rapidly growing malignant tumors (Fig. 2).

HIF-1α heterodimerizes with HIF-1β (also termed ARNT) to form the transcriptionally active protein complex. The family of HIFs comprises two further members, HIF-2α and HIF-3α. The role of the latter for hypoxic gene regulation has not been defined so far. Further molecules that interfere with the HIF/ARNT complex are well known transcriptional coactivators, such as CBP/p300 [for review, see 31]. HIF-1α protein is rapidly degradated and ubiquitinated under normoxic conditions, however, stabilized under hypoxic conditions. Ubiquitination is mediated by the von Hippel Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene [for review, see 28]. Accordingly, patients suffering from von Hippel Lindau syndrome – a disease characterized by a loss of the VHL gene-showed enhanced expression of HIF-1α and HIF-dependent genes, such as angiogenesis factors 32. A typical clinical feature of these patients are vascular tumors.

More recent data showed that proline hydroxylation of HIF in the oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODD) – which overlaps with the N-terminal transactivation domain – is of central importance for the recognition of HIF-1α by the VHL protein and subsequent ubiquitination 33. In this study, proline hydoxylation was dependent on cellular oxygen levels and required 2-oxoglutarate and iron as co-factors.

In another recent study, a further level of HIF regulation has been described. It is known that hypoxia promotes the interaction of transcriptional coactivators such as CBP/p300 with its C-terminal transactivation domain. This interaction was shown to be inhibited by the action of a factor called FIH-1 ("factor inhibiting HIF-1") 34. Within the C-terminal transactivation domain a conserved asparagine residue has been identified and it could be shown that this residue is hydroxylated under normoxic conditions leading to a blockage of interaction with transcriptional co-activators. It could be further shown that FIH is indeed an asparaginyl hydroxylase 35. Interestingly, however, overexpression of FIH under hypoxia was still able to suppress HIF activity, suggesting that further mechanisms, additional to low O₂ levels, might be required for FIH inactivition under hypoxia.

Posttranslational stabilization under hypoxia and enzymatic modification on prolyl and asparaginyl residues were, however, not sufficient for the regulation of the transcriptional activity of HIF-1α. Protein phosphorylation apparently plays a further important role 36. In hamster fibroblasts it could be demonstrated that under low oxygen tension HIF-1α was directly phosphorylated and activated by the MAP kinase ERK. This phosphorylation enhanced HIF-1 dependent transcriptional activition of the VEGF gene 2636.

Based on the current knowledge about its role in hypoxia-induced gene expression and the mechanisms of molecular regulation one could speculate that HIF-1α might be an interesting target for future tumor therapy. Indeed, the relevance of HIF-1α for tumor progression could be demonstrated 37. In the latter paper HIF-1α wildtype H-ras-transformed mouse embryonic fibroblasts showed enhanced tumor growth in vivo compared with their HIF-1α deficient counterparts. The underlying mechanisms for the observed differences remain elusive. Interestingly, there were no differences in vascularity of tumors derived from both wildtype and HIF deficient cells. Ravi and coworkers demonstrated that human colon cancer cells deficient in p53 display enhanced tumor growth and neovascularization of tumor xenografts in nude mice 38. It could be further shown that p53 expression exerted a negative influence on HIF-1 expression via induction of Mdm2 mediated ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of HIF-1. In contrast, loss of p53 enhanced HIF-1 activity and VEGF expression under hypoxia. Thus, both enhanced growth and vascularity could attributed to HIF-1 expression and function. Furthermore, in another mouse tumor model, inhibition of HIF-1α activity by anti-sense technique reduced aggressive tumor growth 39. Based on these findings, the idea was emphasized that interfering with the ubiquitination pathway and hydroxylation events might be a promissing approach for future therapeutic strategies [for review, see 40].

Activator protein (AP)-1 is a well-known oncogene and transcription factor. AP-1 has been shown to be involved in a variety of processes linked to malignant transformation of mammalian cells [for review, see 1941]. However, evidence has also been provided that it may be involved in gene regulation under cellular stress, in particular under hypoxia 42 (Fig. 2). While the transcription factor NF-κB is known to play a central role in gene regulation under hypoxia/reoxygenation, AP-1 has been shown to be strongly activated under hypoxia 42. It could be shown in a series of different tumor cells, e.g. colon cancer, glioblastoma and malignant melanoma cells that AP-1 activity may be induced by hypoxia 434445. AP-1 is a heterodimeric complex which may be composed of a variety of different components, among which members of the family of Jun and Fos proteins are of central importance [for review, see 1941]. Since cJun is targeted by the JNK/SAPK signalling this pathway may be one signalling cascade by which AP-1 activity is mediated under hypoxia. Indeed, JNK/SAPK signalling leads to AP-1 activation under hypoxia 846. NF-κB activation may also be induced under hypoxia, although strongest activation was observed under hypoxia/reoxygenation 4247. The latter mechanism has been proposed to be independent of the degradation of the common upstream inhibitor of NF-κB, IκBα. Tyrosine hydroxylation of IκBα-which does not impact on its degradation – has been proposed as an activation mechanism under hypoxia/reoxygenation 48.

Recently, it could be demonstrated that both AP-1 and HIF cooperated in hypoxia-induced transcription 495051. In one study 50, using wildtype and HIF-1α nullizygous mouse embryonic fibroblasts it was shown that under chronic hypoxia c-Jun mRNA expression and phosphorylation of cJun in the N-terminal region were both dependent on the presence of HIF-1α 50. In contrast, early and rapid induction of cJun was not dependent on HIF-1α. The underlying mechanisms remain to be investigated. However, positive feedback of hypoxia-induced cJun expression on its own transcriptional induction was excluded since the phosphorylation/activation status of cJun did not impact on the levels of cJun mRNA expression. It was suggested that genes induced via HIF-1α dependent transcription might contribute to enhanced cJun expression.

In another study, a direct cooperation of both transcription factors, cJun/AP-1 and HIF-1, has been demonstrated 51. The investigators used in vitro luciferase assays to show that overexpression of cJun induced HIF-dependent promoter activity. This promoter activity could partially be inhibited by co-expression of TAM67, a dominant negative form of cJun. Moreover, in further immunoprecipitation studies, an association between cJun and HIF-1α could be demonstrated. In addition, evidence was provided that this interaction requires further interaction partners, since HIF-1α /cJun interaction could only be demonstrated in vivo but not in vitro, using both partners HIF-1α and cJun as in vitro translated proteins.

Direct or indirect interaction of both transcription factors cJun/AP-1 and HIF-1α might be a general mechanism for the regulation at least for some of the known hypoxia-inducible genes. In line with this, in immunoprecipitation studies we were able to co-immunoprecipitate HIF-1α with antibodies against cJun and vice versa, indicating that HIF-1α binds to cJun/AP-1 [Kunz et al., submitted]. One mechanism by which both HIF and cJun/AP-1 may interact in vivo could involve the transcriptional co-activator CBP/p300, a molecules which had been shown to bind to both molecules. Indeed, CBP/p300 recruitment to HIF has been shown to be redox-regulated [for review, see 31].

SP-1 had been regarded as a transcription factor involved in baseline gene transcription of a variety of genes 52. Little is known about the role of SP-1 in hypoxia-induced gene regulation. However, SP-1 has been recently shown to be involved in the transcriptional regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 in vascular endothelial cells under hypoxic conditions 53. These studies were undertaken based on observations that cyclooxygenase-2 showed enhanced expression in vivo in hypoxic heart and vessel tissues. Overexpression of SP-1, but not SP-3, was able to induce the cyclooxygenase-2 promoter in in vitro luciferase assays. In contrast, SP-3 acted as a transcriptional repressor under hypoxia in these studies.

Taken together, the picture of the molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced gene regulation is becoming more and more complete. Hypoxic gene regulation involves transcription factors HIF-1α, AP-1, NF-κB and SP-1. Some of these probably interact directly.

It is well established that local growth and metastasis of a large variety of malignant tumors are dependent on neovascularization [for review, see 125455]. Tumor angiogenesis requires the production and secretion of so-called angiogenesis factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and interleukin-8 [for review, see 5558]. The mechanisms underlying angiogenesis factor production are, however, poorly understood. Evidence has been provided that a constitutive high expression of angiogenesis factors in isolated tumor cells or cell clones may be the first step in a selection process towards angiogenesis factor producing tumors 59. A constitutive high expression of angiogenesis factors in tumor cells may derive from the so-called "angiogenic switch" which is supposed to happen very early during tumor development [for review, see 54]. In accordance with this, it has been shown that a constitutive high expression of IL-8 promotes tumor growth of melanoma cells in vivo 60.

However, it has been shown for a large series of angiogenesis factors that these were strongly induced by tissue hypoxia. Based on currently available data, hypoxia inducible angiogenesis factors are VEGF, IL-8, angiogenin, FGF and PDGF 4445616263646566. In a recent attempt using gene expression libraries of hypoxic glioblastoma cells a series of new, as yet unknown, hypoxia-inducible genes were identified 67. Among the genes identified that may impact on tumor angiogenesis, a gene termed "angiopoietin-related gene" was described. Its role for tumor angiogenesis awaits further investigation.

That hypoxia may indeed act as a strong inducer of angiogenesis factors in tumor cells has been shown for a variety of malignant tumors in vitro and in vivo, e.g. glioblastoma, ovarian carcinoma, malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma 4561656869. These findings may have a profound influence on future tumor therapies and therefore have attracted great interest in recent years. A large series of clinical trials are currently underway testing various antiangiogenic compounds for their efficacy in tumor therapy [for review, see 55].

At present, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the best characterized angiogenesis factor. VEGF was initially described as "vascular permeability factor" 70. Investigations on VEGF unveiled a series of different receptors with structural similarities: Flt 1 (VEGFR-1), KDR/Flk-1 (VEGFR-2), Flt 4, Tie-1 and Tek/Tie-2. The functional importance of VEGF and VEGF receptors for embryonic vasculogenesis and angiogenesis had been demonstrated in a variety of experimental models including VEGF and VEGF receptor knockout mice 71. VEGF expression had been shown to play a particular role in the growth of glioblastomas, which show extensive vascularization 72. A characteristic feature of VEGF expression is its inducibility by hypoxia. HIF-1α could be identified as major transcription factor involved in the hypoxic gene induction of VEGF 62. Recently, the role of VEGFR-2 (also termed KDR/Flk-1) for the invasive growth of skin squamous cell carcinoma cells could be demonstrated 69. In malignant keratinocyte transplants onto nude mice the invasive phenotype of these cells could be reverted by addition of blocking antibodies to VEGFR-2. Furthermore, it could be shown that VEGF overexpression in human melanoma cell lines led to increased growth of tumors subcutaneously injected into nude mice. The latter tumors were well vascularized and displayed little necrosis, while non-transfected control tumor cells formed minimally vascularized tumors with extensive necrosis 73. In clinical trials specific peptides directed against VEGF are currently being used for antioangiogenic tumor treatment [for review, see 55].

Angiogenin, first described in adenocarcinoma cell-conditioned medium, is a potent angiogenic factor in vivo 74. Angiogenin is a member of the RNase superfamily targeting ribosomal and transfer RNA. Its ribonucleolytic activity is low, however, significantly contributes to its angiogenic activity. A 170 kDa cell surface angiogenin receptor has been identified mediating angiogenin induced endothelial cell proliferation 75. In inhibition experiments with a monoclonal antibody directed against angiogenin suppression of tumor growth of human colon adenocarcinomas, lung carcinomas, and fibrosarcomas in nude mice was observed 76. Angiogenin has also been identified as an important angiogenesis factor for melanoma progression 64. In melanoma metastases angiogenin has been shown to be predominantly localized around necrotic/hypoxic tumor areas. In accordance with this, its induction by hypoxia could be shown in melanoma cells in vitro 64.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a member of the well-known superfamily of CXC chemokines [for review, see 77]. Originally, it was termed neutrophil-activating peptide. However, it also acts as a strong activator of lymphocytes and monocytes. IL-8 is also a well defined angiogenesis factor 78. It could be shown that IL-8 induces neovascularization in the rabbit cornea assay. Further detailed analyses demonstrated that an aminoterminal ELR motif is central for IL-8 receptor binding and angiogenesis induction. IL-8 has been opposed to other members of the CXC chemokine family which lack the ELR motif, such as Mig-1 and IP-10. Both chemokines have no angiogenic capacity, but exert antiangiogenic effects. The molecular regulation of IL-8, especially after cytokine stimulation of target cells, has been extensively studied in the past years 79. More recent investigations showed that IL-8 production is inducible in tumor cells by hypoxia 6568. We were able to demonstrate that IL-8 was strongly expressed in vivo in hypoxic melanoma metastases 45. The molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxic gene regulation of IL-8 involved the transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1 4445. IL-8 induction by hypoxia might be a general mechanism in a variety of tumors. Based on currently available data IL-8 activation by hypoxia occurred in malignant melanoma, glioblastoma and ovarian carcinoma 456568.

Cyr61 is a recently identified angiogenesis factors, which was initially described as a growth factor inducible gene in mouse fibroblasts 80. It belongs to the CCN family of immediate early genes. The acronym CCN stands for the currently best characterized family members CCN1 (CYR61), CCN2 (CTGF, connective tissue growth factor), and CCN3 (NOV, nephroblastoma overexpressed) [for review, see 8181]. CCN family members are involved in cellular proliferation and cell adhesion. Recent investigations showed that Cyr61 acted as an angiogenesis factor 82. In this study, it could be shown that Cyr61 stimulated endothelial cell migration in vitro and induced neovascularization of rat corneas. Moreover, in a nude mouse tumor model, transfected Cyr61 overexpressing RF-1 human gastric carcinoma cells resulted in larger and more vascularized tumors compared with their non-transfected normal counterparts.

The receptors mediating the diverse functions of Cyr61 have been investigated in more detail and it could be shown that Cyr61 binds to members of the family of integrins, e.g. αvβ3, αvβ5. Integrin receptor binding was of importance for endothelial cell activation and proliferation, however, might also account for the effects of Cyr61 on tumor cells. Very recently, it could be shown that high Cyr61 expression was associated with the aggressiveness of breast carcinoma cells lines 83. Additionally, we were able to show that Cyr61 is hypoxia-inducible in melanoma cells and both transcription factors, AP-1 and HIF-1α, may contribute to the hypoxic induction of Cyr61 [Kunz et al., submitted]. Interestingly, also CTGF, another member of the CCN family, could be induced by hypoxia 84.

In malignant tumors the rate of apoptosis is high in undervascularized areas 8586. One feasible explanation for these findings might be that low oxygen pressure/hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment might directly induce apoptosis in tumor cells. Indeed, it could be shown in vitro that besides it various metabolic effects, hypoxia induced apoptosis in tumor cells [for review, see 87]. The mechanisms of apoptosis regulation under hypoxia are, however, poorly understood. Evidence has been provided that the so-called mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), presenting as a hyperpermeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane, is a central mechanism in hypoxia mediated apoptosis (Fig. 3). As a consequence of MPT induction cytochrome C is released into the cytoplasm. Cytochrome C in turn interacted with Apaf-1, a central kinase in apoptosis signalling 88. Apaf-1 is a well known activator of downstream effector caspases, which are the main executors of apoptosis, such as caspase 9. This process could be counteracted by members of the Bcl-2 family of anti-apoptotic molecules, such as Bcl-2 itself and Bcl-xL. However, evidence had also been provided that Bax, another member of the Bcl-2 family, enhanced hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Bax was able to generate membrane pores in the outer mitochondrial membrane and thereby contribute to cytochrome C induced apoptosis 89. The mechanisms by which members of the Bcl-2 family exert anti-apoptotic effects are not fully defined. It had been suggested that reactive oxygen metabolites/species (ROS) are the main contributors to stress-induced apoptosis and are affected by the expression of members of the Bcl-2 family. However, it could be demonstrated that Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL may protect PC12 rat hepatoma cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis under conditions where ROS were not detectable 9091. A recently identified member of the Bcl-2 family, Nip3, has been shown to exert pro-apoptotic effects 92. At present it is the only molecule of this family which is inducible by hypoxia.

Although not directly linked to the caspase 9 signalling cascade the caspase 8 system might also be involved in apoptosis regulation under hypoxia. Recently, it could be shown that caspase 8 is involved in hypoxia-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells 93. In accordance with the latter paper we were able to show that hypoxia induced caspase 8 mRNA in melanoma cells (unpublished observation). In this respect it is of particular importance, that the cellular expression levels of caspase 8 might influence the sensitivity to apoptosis inducing agents. This was emphasized in a study demonstrating that neuroectodermal brain tumor cells lacking caspase 8 expression were resistant to TRAIL induced apoptosis. Treatment with a methyltransferase inhibitor restored caspase 8 expression and led to enhanced apoptosis sensitivity. Thus, caspase 8 expression levels might contribute to apoptosis sensitivity of tumor cells 94.

Recently, it could be shown that experimental deprivation of glucose induced apoptosis in myc-transformed fibroblasts 95. Since glucose deprivation also occurs in the center of undervascularized and hypoxic tumors it might contribute to hypoxia-induced apoptosis in vivo. Furthermore, data from another group showed that not hypoxia itself but concomitant acidosis may be the main trigger for apoptosis under hypoxic conditions 96. It could be demonstrated that in normal fibroblasts hypoxia-induced cell cycle arrest. In contrast, in oncogene transformed fibroblasts hypoxia induced apoptosis. The latter mechanism, however, required acidosis. If acidosis was removed from culture conditions by buffering, tumor cell viability and clonogenicity – of transformed fibroblasts – were both enhanced. Thus, hypoxia has not only a different impact on normal versus transformed cells, but its effects may also depend on the presence of acidosis in the tissue microenvironment. Further experiments have to address the question whether this phenomenon is cell-type specific.

It had been shown that p53 induction under severe hypoxia was HIF-1α dependent 97. Thus, HIF-1α exerts a dual function by promoting tumor growth via the induction of angiogenesis, and, by promoting apoptosis via stabilization of the p53 protein. Under hypoxia the phosphorylation status of HIF-1α is a critical factor for the decision whether HIF may promote apoptosis or not. While dephosphorylated HIF-1α exerts pro-apoptotic effects under hypoxia its phosphorylated form does not 98. The decision, which way the cells go was dependent on the severity of hypoxia 97.

The phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase-Akt signalling pathway plays a central role in mediating signals derived from growth factors and cytokines that induce cell survival and proliferation (Fig. 3). Akt is a serine/threonine kinase which phosphorylates substrates leading to a decrease of the activity of pro-apoptotic molecules and an increase in the activity of anti-apoptotic molecules [for review, see 99100]. In particular, Akt promotes cell survival by preventing Bad from inhibiting the anti-apoptotic activity of Bcl-xL. Akt also inhibits the alteration of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, Akt induces NF-κB activation via phosphorylation of IκB kinase α, thereby increasing the expression of genes promoting cell survival. It also acts on cell cycle inhibitors and the well-known apoptosis molecule caspase 9. Recently, it could be shown that Akt signalling could be activated by hypoxia and prevented PC12 cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis 101. Moreover, HER-2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer cell lines were shown to be resistant to hypoxia-induced apoptosis and suppression of apoptosis could be reversed by PtdIns 3-kinase inhibitors such as LY294002 and wortmannin 102. Thus, Akt could play an important role for apoptosis resistance under hypoxia.

PTEN, a recently discovered tumor suppressor gene has been shown to be mutated or lost in a variety of different tumors, in particular in tumors of advanced stage 103104105. It could be shown that germline mutations in PTEN underly Cowden syndrome 106, a disease characterized by the occurence of multiple tumors in affected patients. Functionally, PTEN acts as a lipid phosphatase which dephosphorylates PtdIns lipids, such as PtdIns (4,5)P₂ and PtdIns (3,4,5)P₃. This leads to a disruption of PtdIns 3-kinase-Akt signalling (Fig. 3). It could be shown that this lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN is indeed important for its tumor suppressor function 107. In the mentioned study reconstitution of wild type PTEN in the PTEN-deficient prostate cancer cell line LnCaP inhibited cell survival. Furthermore, transfection of LnCaP cells with constitutively active Akt reverted the phenotype of PTEN deficient cells.

In a recent study it could be shown that overexpression of wildtype PTEN suppressed hypoxia-mediated activation of Akt in glioblastoma cell lines 108. Although without influence on the rate of apoptotic cells under hypoxia, reconstitution of wildtype PTEN in PTEN-deficient glioblastoma cells downregulated angiogenesis factors such as VEGF (Fig. 3). This process involved the transcription factor HIF-1α (Fig. 3). Thus, PTEN expression negatively interfered with hypoxia-induced angiogenesis factor expression in glioblastoma cells. Since loss of PTEN is a common feature in late-stage tumors enhanced angiogenesis factor production under hypoxia might indirectly promote cell survival under the adverse conditions of the tumor microenvironment.

Recently, the oncoprotein Mdm2 had been identified as another target for Akt [for review, see 100]. Activation of Akt signalling pathway promotes nuclear entry of Mdm2. There, it interacts with p53 tumor suppressor protein and targets p53 for proteasomal degradation. PTEN had been shown to inhibit movement of Mdm2 into the nucleus and thereby inhibited p53 proteasomal degradation, rendering cells susceptible for apoptosis inducing stimuli. Moreover, p53 binding motifs have been identified in the PTEN promoter 109. In the latter study p53 induced PTEN transcription and cellular levels of PTEN protein, thus providing a pro-apoptotic p53-PTEN pathway. The role of hypoxia in this regulatory pathway has also been addressed. It could be demonstrated that hypoxia suppressed Mdm2 expression and thereby enhanced p53 expression 110. Interestingly, however, in a recent study the transcriptional activity of stabilized p53 induced by deferoxamine mesylate, which mimics hypoxia, was lost in all the tested tumor cell lines 111. Thus, hypoxia-induced stabilization of p53 does not necessarily relate to p53 function.

Taken together, hypoxia mediated apoptosis utilizes different intracellular pathways involving apoptosis and cell survival molecules such as cytochrome C, members of the Bcl-2 family, Akt and PTEN.