Histone H3K9 demethylase JMJD1A is a co-activator of erythropoietin expression under hypoxia.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a secreted hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells, and the level of EPO is increased under hypoxia. The expression of EPO is regulated not only by the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) but also partly through epigenetic modifications, including histone acetylation and methylation. In this study, we report that histone H3K9 demethylase JMJD1 A is regulated by HIF-2α in HepG2 cells under hypoxia. Knockdown or over-expression of JMJD1 A can decrease or increase EPO expression, respectively. JMJD1 A can interact with HIF-2α to form a co-activator complex, which binds to the hypoxia response elements of EPO and increases EPO expression by catalyzing demethylation of H3K9me2, a transcription suppression marker. The results demonstrate that JMJD1 A is a co-activator of EPO expression.