High glucose and/or high insulin affects HIF-1 signaling by regulating AIP1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

•The first demonstration of a rapid increment in AIP1 synthesis in cells exposed to high glucose.•Insulin partially reverses the effect of high glucose on the expression of AIP1 and HIF-1α signaling.•Evidence of a possible relationship between AIP1 and HIF-1α signaling under high glucose.•AIP1 downregulation reduces apoptosis and promotes cell proliferation and migration along with tubule formation under high glucose.•AIP1 might be a key molecule involved in disordered signaling and impaired function of cells in diabetes.