EPAS1 and hereditary pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma: However, it is possible that in individuals with type 1 VHL mutations, higher levels of HIF-2α and of the proapoptotic HIF target gene, EglN3, cause some culling of renal cells upon loss of the wild type allele, in a manner similar to as has been suggested for pheochromocytoma [33].