AimTo investigate the influence of atorvastatin on the expression of toll-like receptor-4(TLR4) and lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1(LOX-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), intercellular adhension molecule-1(ICAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and to study its possible anti-atherosclerotic mechanism.MethodsHUVEC was cultured in vitro and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 2 h, then treated with atorvastatin for 24 h, finally the mRNA expression of TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88), tumour-necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF-6),LOX-1,TNF-α and ICAM-1 was measured with real-time PCR, the protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF-6, LOX-1, TNF-α and ICAM-1 was analyzed using Western Blotting method.ResultsLPS enhanced the expression of TLR4,MyD88,TRAF-6,LOX-1,TNF-α and ICAM-1 (p<0.01), atorvastatin decreased the high expression of TLR4,MyD88,TRAF-6, LOX-1,TNF-α and ICAM-1(p<0.01) which were stimulated by LPS.ConclusionAtorvastatin can block the high expression of TLR4 and its downstream signal transduction pathway and the high expression of LOX-1,TNF-α and ICAM-1.Maybe it’s the mechanism of action of atorvastatin to exert the function of anti-artherosclerosis.