Aim To observe the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in vascular smooth muscle cells, and investigate whether its mechanism has something to do with the catalysis of the cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19). Methods Transient transfected the plasmid with or without CYP19 into cultured vascular SMC respectively by lipidosome transfection. 24 h later, the cells were stimulated with ox-LDL and DHEA. Using the method of RT-PCR, Realtime PCR, ELISA, the gene and protein of MCP-1 expression levels of each group were detected. Results Compared with the group stimulated by ox-LDL, the secretion level of MCP-1 was obviously reduced after given ox-LDL and DHEA (p<0.05). There wasn’t obvious difference of MCP-1 expression in the groups of transfected plasmid with or without CYP19 (p>0.05). Conclusion DHEA shows inhibiting effects on ox-LDL-induced MCP-1 expression in vascular SMC, which may be one of the mechanisms of its antiatherosclerosis. And this effect is not mediated by CYP19.