ObjectiveTo elucidate whether hypoxia induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) gene improved hypoxia tolerant capability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells uptake(MSCs) or not and whether the capability was related to glucose uptake increase in hypoxia MSCs ex vivo or not. MethodsMSCs were randomly divided into normoxia non-HIF-1α transfection group (control group), normoxia HIF-1α transfection group, hypoxia non-HIF-1α transfection group, and hypoxia HIF-1α transfection group and then each group was cultured with normoxia (5% CO2 at 37 ℃) or hypoxia (94% N2, 1% O2, 5% CO2 at 37 ℃) for 8 h, respectively. Finally, the expressions of HIF-1α were detected by immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot methods, respectively. Apoptosis ratio (AR) and death ratio (DR) were tested by flow cytometry. The proliferation was detected by MTT method. Glucose uptake was assayed by radiation isotope method. Results① Compared with the normoxia non-HIF-1α transfection group, the expression of HIF-1α mRNA significantly increased (Plt;0.01) in the normoxia HIF-1α transfection group except for its protein (P=0.187); Both of mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α in the hypoxia HIF-1α transfection group were significantly higher than those in the hypoxia non-HIF-1α transfection group (Plt;0.01). ② The AR (P=0.001) and DR (P=0.003) in the hypoxia HIF-1α transfection group were significantly lower thanthose in the hypoxia non-HIF-1α transfection group, both of which were significantly higher than those in the normoxia non-HIF-1α transfection group (Plt;0.01). ③ The proliferation of MSCs in the hypoxia HIF-1α transfection group was significantly higher than that in the hypoxia non-HIF-1α transfection group (P=0.004), which significantly lower than that in the normoxia non-HIF-1α transfection group (P=0.001). ④ Compared with the hypoxia non-HIF-1α transfection group, the 3H-G uptake capability (P=0.004) of MSCs significantly increased in the hypoxia HIF-1α transfection group, which was significantly lower than that in the normoxia non-HIF-1α transfection group (P=0.001). ⑤ There were significantly negative relation between AR and HIF-1α protein (r=－0.71，P=0.005) or 3H-G uptake (r=－0.65，P=0.004), and significantly positive relation between HIF-1α protein expression and 3H-G uptake (r=0.77, P=0.003). ConclusionHIF-1α gene significantly improves anti-hypoxia capability of MSCs, which is fulfilled by increasing glucose upake.