Objective-Nitro-fatty acids (NO 2 -FAs) are emerging as a new class of cell signaling mediators. Because NO 2 -FAs are found in the vascular compartment and their impact on vascularization remains unknown, we aimed to investigate the role of NO 2 -FAs in angiogenesis. Methods and Results-The effects of nitrolinoleic acid and nitrooleic acid were evaluated on migration of endothelial cell (EC) in vitro, EC sprouting ex vivo, and angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane assay in vivo. At 10 mol/L, both NO 2 -FAs induced EC migration and the formation of sprouts and promoted angiogenesis in vivo in an NO-dependent manner. In addition, NO 2 -FAs increased intracellular NO concentration, upregulated protein expression of the hypoxia inducible factor-1␣ (HIF-1␣) transcription factor by an NO-mediated mechanism, and induced expression of HIF-1␣ target genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, glucose transporter-1, and adrenomedullin. Compared with typical NO donors such as spermine-NONOate and deta-NONOate, NO 2 -FAs were slightly less potent inducers of EC migration and HIF-1␣ expression. Short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of HIF-1␣ attenuated the induction of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression and EC migration stimulated by NO 2 -FAs. Conclusion-Our data disclose a novel physiological role for NO 2 -FAs, indicating that these compounds induce angiogenesis in an NO-dependent mechanism via activation of HIF-1␣. Key Words: angiogenesis Ⅲ nitric oxide Ⅲ hypoxia inducible factor-1 Ⅲ nitro-fatty acids N itro-fatty acids (NO 2 -FAs) are nitroalkene products of polyunsaturated fatty acids, nitrated by nitric oxide (NO)-derived species. 1 NO 2 -FAs, including nitrolinoleic acid (LNO 2 ) and nitrooleic acid (OA-NO 2 ), have pluripotent cell signaling capabilities. For example, they exhibit antiinflammatory properties by inhibiting platelet aggregation and neutrophil activation 2 and upregulating heme oxygenase-1 expression. 3 Recently, the ability to nitrosate CD40 4 and potential cardioprotective effects have also been ascribed to these compounds. 5 Interestingly, OA-NO 2 was found in reperfused ischemic heart tissue, indicating that its formation might occur during the reperfusion process. Moreover, exogenous administration of OA-NO 2 also mitigates the damage induced by tissue reoxygenation. 5 NO 2 -FAs also activate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-␥ 6 and might mediate reversible posttranslational protein modifications through nitroalkylation reactions both with low-molecularweight thiols and with cysteine and histidine residues of proteins. 2 Furthermore, NO 2 -FAs not only serve as reservoirs for NO but also may act as endogenous NO donors,4,7 inducing vessel relaxation 8,9 and upregulating endothelial NO synthase expression and activity, ultimately increasing NO levels. 10 NO is a well-established modulator of angiogenesis, 11 which is a crucial process during embryonic development and in several pathological conditions, including vascular diseases. 12 Angiogenesis is tight...