Abstract: PURPOSE To investigate the method of differentiating dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) modified by HIF-1α into blood vessels. METHODS DPSCs were extracted from teeth samples from 20 patients and were identified by Strol-1 and CD146. DPSCs were divided into experimental group and control group according to DPSCs were modified by HIF-1α not or. HIF-1α-mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR. HIF-1α, VEGF, SDF-1, Ang-2 and PDGF expression were detected using Western blot in different time after culture for 1 d, 4 d, 7 d and 14 d. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 16.0 software package. RESULTS Most DPSCs appeared round, oval under phase-contrast microscopy. CD146 and Strol-1 showed green fluorescence. HIF-1α and HIF-1α-mRNA expression became higher with time passing and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Compared with the control group, HIF-1α protein and mRNA increased obviously in the experimental group 1d, 4d, 7d and 14d after transfection, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The level of VEGF, SDF-1, Ang-2 and PDGF in the control group was changed unconspicuously, and the expression was not different at different times (P>0.05). The level of VEGF, SDF-1, Ang-2 and PDGF in the exprimental group increased, and the difference was statistically significant between different time points(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the level of VEGF, SDF-1, Ang-2 and PDGF in the experimental group was higher 1 d, 4 d, 7 d and 14 d after transfection, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS DPSCs modified by HIF-1α gene can successfully induce vascular differentiation in vitro, which provides foundation for further angioplasty.