HIF-1α suppresses myeloma progression by targeting Mcl-1

HIF-1 alpha is involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of multiple types of cancer. However, the precise role of HIF-1 alpha is unclear in multiple myeloma. Through the qRT-PCR and CCK-8 assays, we demonstrated that silenc-ing the expression of HIF-1 alpha and Mcl-1, MM proliferation can be decreased and apoptosis can be induced. Next, using the GEO database, we found that Mcl-1 was increased in MMs. Mcl-1 overexpression counterbalanced the tumor suppressing effect of siHIF-1 alpha on MM apoptosis. Additionally, HIF-1 alpha acting as a transcription factor, could directly target the promoter region of Mcl-1 to promote Mcl-1 expression. Based on the experimental result, our find-ings strongly suggest that HIF-1 alpha regulated the progression of MMs by directly targeting the Mcl-1.