Aim To estimate the expression and significance of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1),vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in human normal coronary artery and coronary atherosclerosis. Methods SP immunohistochemical technique was utilized to measure the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TNF-α in normal caromrlyartery and caronary atherosclerosis respectively. Analyses were performed on SPSS 10.0. Results The expressions of ICAM-1,VCAM-1and TNF-α were on endothelial cell, smooth muscle cell and macrophage of atherosclerosis. They were expressed individually as 50.0±10.9, 51.8±6.0, 13.9±2.8 in fatty streak period, 23.1±7.3, 37.2± 9.7 , 23.0±6.0 in fibrous plaque period, 17.5±4.9, 18.6±5.5, 38.0±10.0 in atheromatous plaque period. They were all significantly higher than those in healthy controls (all p<0.01). There was positive correlation in ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and TNF-α (r1=0.344, P1<0.01; r2=0.52, P2<0.01). Conclusion The expression of ICAM-1,VCAM-1and TNF-αin endothelial cell,smooth muscle cell and macrophage of experimental group implied they partaked the certain link of progression in atherosclerosis. Expression of TNF-αwas related to ICAM-1,VCAM-1 and degree of atherosclerosis.