Fatty acid-bearing albumin but not fatty acid-depleted albumin induces HIF-1 activation in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2

•Fatty acid-bearing albumin, but not fatty acid-free one, increased HIF-1α expression.•Fatty acid-bearing albumin, but not fatty acid-free one, induced HIF-1 target genes.•Fatty acid-bearing albumin, but not fatty acid-free one, increased GLUT activity. Recently, we found that albumin overload induces expression of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein and several HIF-1 target genes in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2. In this study, the role of albumin-bound fatty acids in the albumin-induced HIF-1 activation was studied. The enhancing effect of fatty acid-bearing human serum albumin [FA(+)HSA] treatment on HIF-1α protein expression was much greater than that of fatty acid-depleted human serum albumin [FA(−)HSA] treatment. The FA(+)HSA treatment induced HIF-1 target gene mRNAs such as those of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) in concentration-dependent manners, while FA(−)HSA caused no significant increases in these mRNAs. Consistent with increased GLUT1 mRNA, GLUT1 protein expression and GLUT inhibitor cytochalasin B-sensitive d-[3H]glucose uptake activity were significantly enhanced by treatment with FA(+)HSA, but not with FA(−)HSA. These findings indicate that fatty acids bound to albumin play a crucial role in albumin-induced HIF-1 activation followed by changes in HIF-1 target gene expression and protein product activity.