Aim To investigate the effect of Paclitaxel on TNF-α induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells expression of Cat K and NF-κB and explore the mechanism of paclitaxel inhibiting intimal hyperplasia. Methods HUVEC in the third to sixth generation were used in the present study. The cells were treated with different concentrations of paclitaxel for 1 hour and then with 10 μg/L TNF-α were added into it for 24 hours,mRNA and protein level of Cathepsin K and NF-κB were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blot respectively in these HUVEC. Results Paclitaxel could inhibit TNF-α induced Cathepsin K mRNA and Cathepsin K protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. There was no significant difference between 1 nmol/L paclitaxel group and TNF-α group；Paclitaxel could inhibit TNF-α induced Cathepsin K protein expression in a dose-dependent manner, comparing 1 nmol/L paclitaxel group and TNF-α group. Paclitaxel could inhibit TNF-α induced NF-κB mRNA and NF-κB protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion Paclitaxel could decrease the expression of Cathepsin K and NF-κB stimulated with TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner,paclitaxel may inhibit the activation of NF-κB to reduce Cat K expression.