Aim To investigate mechanism for accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetic patients, effect of advanced glycosylation end-product (AGE) on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR γ) mRNA was observed in cultured human vascular endothelial cells (ECV304). Methods The ECV304 cells were exposed to AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) of 200 mg/L (glycated with glucose of 0, 20, 50, 80 mmol/L) for 24 h, or incubated with AGE-BSA (50 mmol/L, 200 mg/L) for 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 h, and were treated by AGE-BSA (50, 100, 200, 400 mg/L) for 24 h. Expression of PPARγ mRNA in ECV304 cells was measured by RT-PCR with β-actin as internal standard. Results The expressions of PPARγ mRNA were decreased by AGE-BSA incubated with glucose concentration of 20, 50, 80 mmol/L (p<0.001) and depressed by AGE-BSA (50, 100, 200, 400 mg/L), respectively. After intervention of AGE-BSA for periods of 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 h, PPARγ mRNA expression was decreased markedly (p<0.001). Conclusion AGE-BSA could decrease the expression of PPARγ mRNA in cultured human vascular endothelial cells, which might be partly involved in atherogenesis in diabetic patients.