Aim To explore the effects of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) on cholesterol efflux from apolipoprotein E (apo E) gene deficient mouse peritoneal macrophage foam cells. Methods Cholesterol efflux induced by LPC and apo A_Ⅰ from macrophage foam cells separated from normal and apo E gene deficient mice (E 0) mouse loaded with acLDL were measured by enzymetic fluorometry assay. Results LPC could promote cholesterol efflux from macrophage foam cells in relation to both dosage and time. When LPC was incubated with E 0 mouse macrophage foam cells, the released free cholesterol mass was significantly lower than that of normal mouse macrophage foam cells. It was also found that cholesterol efflux induced by apo A_Ⅰ normally occurred in E 0 mouse macrophage foam cells. Conclusion LPC could induce cholesterol efflux from macrophage foam cells, which may occur via apo E pathway.