Fig 5.
β3-Integrin is induced by HIF1α. (A) qPCR experiments on primary keratinocytes of K14 cKO mice demonstrate that only β3-integrin is significantly induced compared to the proteins induced in WT cells (n = 5). (B) glEND cells were transfected with either shScrambled (control), shHIF1α (up), or shHIF2α (down) and grown under normoxic or hypoxic conditions for 24 h. Western blotting confirmed the downregulation of HIF1α or HIF2α expression. (C) A Western blot for β3-integrin clearly shows an HIF1α-dependent induction of the protein after hypoxic growth. (D) PHD2/HIF1α double-deficient keratinocytes showing no β3-integrin induction compared to that for their WT littermates (n = 5). (E) The influence of β3-integrin on the closure of the ex vivo wound was investigated using a specific RGD peptide that blocks αvβ3-integrin. Compared to K14 cKO keratinocytes, the closure of RGD-treated K14 cKO mouse wounds was significantly retarded (n = 5 to 6). On the other hand, WT cells treated with or without the inhibitor showed no significant difference (n = 4). Results are given as means ± SEMs. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01.