Aim To investigate the effect of homocysteine on interleukin 8 production in endothelial cells, and the effect of folic acid and taurine on the role of homocysteine. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with homocysteine at a same concentration for different time or at increasing concentrations but for a same duration, and were incubated with homocysteine and folic acid or taurine for different time, then the interleukin 8 protein in the culture medium were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay showed that exposure of cells to homocysteine (0.1 mmol/L) for 4, 6, 8 and 12 hours, resulted in a 1.85 fold, a 1.88 fold, a 2.22 fold and a 1.56 fold increase respectively in interleukin 8 production, compared with the control group (p<0.01); meanwhile, exposure of cells to homocysteine at different concentrations (0.05 mmol/L, 0.1 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L and 1 mmol/L) for 8 hours, resulted in a 1.43 fold, a 2.16 fold, a 2.57 fold and a 2.88 fold increase respectively in secretion of interleukin 8, compared with the control group (p<0.05 or p<0.01 ); however, exposure of cells to homocysteine (0.1 mmol/L) and folic acid (0.05 mmol/L) or taurine (5 mmol/L) for different time, resulted in no signifcant difference in interleukin 8 production between groups. Conclusion Homocysteine induces secretion of interleukin 8 in cultured endothelial cells; and this role can be inhibited by folic acid and taurine.