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Paradoxical effects of hypoxia-mimicking divalent cobalt ions in human endothelial cells in vitro

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Abstract

Divalent cobalt ions (Co2+) induce the expression of hypoxia responsive genes and are often used in cell biology to mimic hypoxia. In this in vitro study we compared the effects of hypoxia and Co2+ on human endothelial cells and examined processes that are stimulated in hypoxia in vivo (proliferation and angiogenesis). We analyzed the expression of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) under different hypoxic conditions (3% and nearly 0% O2) and Co2+-concentrations (0.01–0.7 mM). As in hypoxia, the amount of HIF-1α protein was enhanced by exposure to Co2+ (did not correlate with mRNA amount). However, contrary to the results of hypoxia, in vitro-angiogenesis was inhibited after exposure to even low Co2+-concentrations (≥0.01 mM). This led to the conclusion that although hypoxia signaling after Co2+-exposure took place, further yet unknown Co2+-induced event(s) must have occurred. (Mol Cell Biochem 270: 157–166, 2005)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55101, Mainz, Germany

    Kirsten Peters, Ronald E. Unger & C. James Kirkpatrick

  2. AMP-Lab GmbH, Laboratory for Applied Molecular Physiology, Becherweg 9-11, 55099, Mainz, Germany

    Harald Schmidt & Günter Kamp

  3. Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Müllerweg 6, 55099, Mainz, Germany

    Günter Kamp

  4. Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology II, Albert Ludwigs-University, Albertstr. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Felicitas Pröls & Bernhard J. Berger

Authors
  1. Kirsten Peters
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  2. Harald Schmidt
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  3. Ronald E. Unger
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  4. Günter Kamp
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Correspondence to Kirsten Peters.

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Peters, K., Schmidt, H., Unger, R.E. et al. Paradoxical effects of hypoxia-mimicking divalent cobalt ions in human endothelial cells in vitro. Mol Cell Biochem 270, 157–166 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-005-4504-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-005-4504-z

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