Organic chemistry

In vivo

Streptozotocin

Diabetes mellitus

Biology

Endocrinology

Chemistry

In vitro

Immunology

Wound healing

Cancer research

Oxygen

Genetics

Biochemistry

Medicine

Hypoxia (environmental)

Pharmacology

Nature Communications

Impaired wound healing and ulcer complications are a leading cause of death in diabetic patients. In this study, we report the design and synthesis of a cyclometalated iridium(III) metal complex 1a as a stabilizer of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). In vitro biophysical and cellular analyses demonstrate that this compound binds to Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) and inhibits the VHL–HIF-1α interaction. Furthermore, the compound accumulates HIF-1α levels in cellulo and activates HIF-1α mediated gene expression, including VEGF , GLUT1 , and EPO . In in vivo mouse models, the compound significantly accelerates wound closure in both normal and diabetic mice, with a greater effect being observed in the diabetic group. We also demonstrate that HIF-1α driven genes related to wound healing (i.e. HSP-90 , VEGFR-1 , SDF-1 , SCF , and Tie-2 ) are increased in the wound tissue of 1a -treated diabetic mice (including, db / db , HFD/STZ and STZ models). Our study demonstrates a small molecule stabilizer of HIF-1α as a promising therapeutic agent for wound healing, and, more importantly, validates the feasibility of treating diabetic wounds by blocking the VHL and HIF-1α interaction.

A small molecule HIF-1α stabilizer that accelerates diabetic wound healing