Hypoxia inducible factor-1α（HIF-1α）is a transcription factor under hypoxia condition,which widely exists in mammals and human body. It is a key factor responding to hypoxic stress. HIF-1α is a subunit of hypoxia inducible factor-1（HIF-1）and considered as the master transcriptional regulator of cellular and developmental response to hypoxia,and regulates the activity of HIF-1. During hypoxia,HIF-1α translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus,where it dimerizes with HIF-1β and the transcriptionally active HIF-1 complex is formed;the activated HIF complex then associates with HREs in the regulatory regions of target genes to induce gene expression. Forming varied signal pathways with multiple proteins in up- and down- streams,HIF-1α mediates hypoxic signals,then regulates a series of hypoxic compensatory response of cell,which plays a crucial role in body growth,physiological and pathological processes,thus it is a focus of biomedical research. We reviewed the role of transcription factors HIF-1α and its signaling pathway in the occurrence of disease , and introduced to the relationship among HIF-1α and growth, development, inflammation and tumor , then carryed out the prospect, in order to better be used in biomedical.
