Aim To observe the effect of simvastatin on the expression of lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1(LOX-1) mediated by oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(hUVEC,ECV304). Methods ECV304 Cells were divided into several groups in random: control,LDL(25 mg/L),ox-LDL(25,50 and 100 mg/L) and ox-LDL(50 mg/L)+simvastatin(1 and 10 μmol/L).Then LOX-1 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),and LOX-1 protein expression was detected by Western blot. Results Ox-LDL markedly induced the increase of cells LOX-1 mRNA and protein expression(p<0.01),and the increase of LOX-1 was dependent on ox-LDL concentration(p<0.05).Simvastatin reduced ox-LDL induced expression of LOX-1(p<(0.05)),and the high concentration of statins was more potent than the low concentration(p<0.05). Conclusions These observations indicate ox-LDL results in endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis by LOX-1.The function of statins on reducing ox-LDL-mediated LOX-1 expression may be one of the mechanisms of anti-atherosclerosis,independent of cholesterol-lowering effect.