Aim To investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) agonist oleoylethanolamide (OEA) on the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells. Methods Western blot was used to detect the effects of OEA on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in lipopolysaccharide-induced THP-1 cells and the expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The adhesion of THP-1 cells and the expression of VCAM-1 protein were detected by TNF-α-induced monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion model after PPARα blocker MK886 blocked PPARα signaling pathway. Results 40 μmol/L OEA significantly inhibited MMP-2, MMP-9, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 protein expression. OEA had a direct inhibitory effect on the monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion induced by TNF-α. MK886 partially reversed the inhibitory effect of OEA on monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and VCAM-1 protein expression. Conclusion OEA can inhibit the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells, and its mechanism may be related to PPARα pathway.