Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) plays central roles in the
hypoxia response. It is highly expressed in multiple
cancers, but not always correlated with
hypoxia. Mutation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, which encodes an
E3 ligase, contributes to the constructive activation of HIF-1α in specific
tumor types, as exemplified by
renal cell carcinoma; but how VHL wild-type
tumors acquire this ability is not completely understood. Here, we found that the oncogene iASPP (inhibitor of apoptosis-simulating
protein of p53) plays essential roles in such a context. Genetic inhibition of iASPP reduced
tumor growth, accompanied by impaired angiogenesis, increased areas of
tumor necrosis, and reduced glycolysis that was HIF-1α-dependent. These abilities of iASPP were validated by in vitro assays. Mechanistically, iASPP directly binds VHL at its β domain, a region also involved in HIF-1α binding, therefore blocking VHL's binding and the subsequent degradation of HIF-1α
protein under normoxia. iASPP levels correlate with HIF-1α
protein and
vascular endothelial growth factor (
VEGF) and the
glucose transporter protein type 1(GLUT1), representative HIF-1α target genes, in human
colon cancer tissues. Furthermore, inhibition of iASPP expression synergizes with low toxic dose of the HIF-1α inhibitor YC-1 to inhibit HIF-1α expression and
tumor growth. Our findings suggest that iASPP contributes to HIF-1α activation in
cancers, and that iASPP-mediated HIF-1α stabilization has potential as a therapeutic approach against
cancer.