Inhibition of GSK3beta by indirubins restores HIF-1alpha accumulation under prolonged periods of hypoxia/anoxia

Hypoxia inducible factor 1 is regulated by the appearance of the HIF-1alpha subunit. HIF-1alpha is subjected to proteasomal destruction or enhanced protein translation, which requires the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. We investigated how PI3K/Akt and glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) affect HIF-1alpha in human RKO cells under prolonged periods of severe hypoxia/anoxia. 16- to 32-h lasting incubations attenuated Akt activity and decreased HIF-1alpha protein. This was reproduced by blocking PI3K with LY294002. GSK3beta inhibition by indirubins circumvented the effect of hypoxia/anoxia or LY294002 on HIF-1alpha. Ruling stability regulation of HIF-1alpha protein and/or enhanced transcription of HIF-1alpha mRNA via GSK3beta inhibition out is suggestive for translational modulation of HIF-1alpha under the influence of GSK3beta.