Aim To study the expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1(LOX-1) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in normal human coronary artery and atherosclerosis and the relationship between LOX-1 and IL-1β.Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of LOX-1,IL-1β,CD68 and smooth muscle actin on the tissue containing 15 normal coronary artery,48 atherosclerotic coronary arteries.Results The expression of LOX-1 and IL-1β in normal coronary artery was negative.Positive expression rates of LOX-1 and IL-1β were 47.5%(23/48) and 18.8%(9/48) in atherosclerotic coronary arteries,respectively.The expression mainly locates in the membrane of endothelial cells,macrophages smooth muscle cells and foam cells.Positive expression rates of LOX-1 were higher in atherosclerosis coronary artery with stenosis≤50% group(61.5%) than stenosis>50% group(31.8%).The expression of LOX-1 in intima was stronger than in media(P=0.044),and a positive association existed between LOX-1 and IL-1β in atherosclerosis(r=0.519,P=0.001).Conclusions Besides endothelial cells,LOX-1 is also expressed on smooth muscle cells and monocyte/macrophages,although the expression level is relatively low.It may appear in the early stages of atherogenesis.Positive association between LOX-1 and IL-1β in atherosclerotic coronary artery suggests that they play an important role in development and progression of atherosclerosis.