Aim To investigate the effects of C-reactive protein (CRP) on expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (hUVEC)and the influence of CRP on matrix remodeling in atherogenesis and plaque rapture. Methods hUVEC were cultured in vitro and intervented by different concentrations of recombination human CRP and provastatin. The MMP-2 mRNA was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and MMP-2 protein was measured by Western blot. Results In comparison with the control, the expression of mRNA and protein of MMP-2 was significantly increased in 20 mg/L and 100 mg/L CRP groups (p<0.05), and this up-regulation of the expression of MMP-2 could be inhibited in provastatin group. Conclusions CRP can enhance the expression of MMP-2 in hUVEC and may cause advanced inflammation in athelosclerosis plaques. It may provide an explanation for the phenomenon that patients who have high concentration of CRP are prone to have atherosclerotic lesions and plaque rapture.