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AIM: To investigate the effect of exogenous peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α(PGC-1α)on vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)expression in human retinal vascular endothelial cells(HRVEC). <p>METHODS: Recombinant PGC-1α protein was added to HRVEC, and no recombinant PGC-1α protein was added to HRVEC as control group. After 24h of incubation, two groups of cells were then placed into a normoxic(20% O₂)or hypoxic(1% O₂)environment for another 16h. The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein were detected by real-time PCR, ELISA and immunofluorescence cytochemistry. <p>RESULTS: VEGF mRNA and protein levels in the cells were significantly increased by recombinant PGC-1α protein both under normoxia and hypoxia conditions as compared with control groups(<i>P</i><0.01). <p>CONCLUSION: PGC-1α can upregulate the expression of VEGF in HRVEC under normoxia and hypoxia conditions.