Deferoxamine enhances the migration of dental pulp cells via hypoxia-inducible factor 1α

In previous studies, we found that deferoxamine (DFO) improved the migration of dental pulp cells (DPCs). The present study aimed to determine whether the effects of DFO on the migration of DPCs were regulated via hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha). Recombinant adenovirus vectors carrying short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the human HIF-1 alpha gene (pAd-GFP-shRNA-HIF-1 alpha) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) were constructed. The expression of HIF-1 alpha was inhibited by pAd-GFP-shRNA-HIF-1 alpha at messenger RNA and protein levels. The secretion of stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha (SDF-1 alpha) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in DPCs treated with 10 mu M DFO was higher than that in the control condition. The migration of DPCs was enhanced by 10 mu M DFO. However, the effects of DFO on DPCs were partially reversed by silencing the HIF-1 alpha gene in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or migration assay. Cumulatively, we conclude that DFO upregulated the secretion of SDF-1 alpha or VEGF in DPCs and improved the migration of DPCs through HIF-1 alpha.