Aim To study the role of bcl-2 in endothelial cells apoptosis induced by ceramide. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured in vitro and treated with ceramide at various levels. TUNEL was employed to determine the apoptosis of the cultured endothelial cells. The bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results Ceramide induced apoptosis of endothelial cells in a dose-dependant manner (P<0.05). The percentage of the apoptotic endothelial cells were 2.13%±0.12%, 13.24%±1.32%, 29.67%±2.32%, 34.43%±3.36% and 38.56%±2.21% respectively after treatment with ceramide at various concentrations (5, 12.5, 25 and 50 μmol/L)for 24 hours. The expression of bcl-2 mRNA and protein in endothelial cells treated with ceramide significantly depressed (P<0.05). Conclusion Ceramide may induce apoptosis of endothelial cells through down-regulating the bcl-2 mRNA and protein expression.