Aminopeptidase A (APA; EC 3.4.11.7) is a transmembrane metalloprotease with several functions in tumor angiogenesis. To investigate the role of APA in the process of ischemia-induced angiogenesis, we evaluated the cellular angiogenic responses under hypoxic conditions and the process of perfusion recovery in the hindlimb ischemia model of APA-deficient (APA-KO; C57B16/J strain) mice. Western blotting of endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from the aorta of APA-KO mice revealed that the accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) protein in response to hypoxic challenge was blunted. Regarding the proteasomal ubiquitination, a proteasome inhibitor MG-132 restored the reduced accumulation of HIF-1 alpha in ECs from APA-KO mice similar to control mice under hypoxic conditions. These were associated with decreased growth factor secretion and capillary formation in APA-KO mice. In the hindlimb ischemia model, perfusion recovery in APA-KO mice was decreased in accordance with a significantly lower capillary density at 2 weeks. Regarding vasculogenesis, no differences were observed in cell populations and distribution patterns between wild type and APA-KO mice in relation to endothelial progenitor cells. Our results suggested that Ischemia-induced angiogenesis is impaired in APA-KO mice partly through decreased HIF-1 alpha stability by proteasomal degradation and subsequent suppression of HIF-1 alpha-driven target protein expression such as growth factors. APA is a functional target for ischemia-induced angiogenesis. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.