BNIP3 and injury: Our present study clearly demonstrated that irinotecan induces liver injury by orchestrating autophagy via HIF-1α/BNIP3 pathway, and HIF-1α inhibition could alleviate irinotecan-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 and L-02 cells, indicating the contribution of HIF-1α/BNIP3-mediated autophagy to lipid accumulation during irinotecan-induced liver injury.