Aim To evaluate the effect of atorvastatin on proliferation and mRNA expression of endothelial lipase(EL) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(hUVEC). Methods Each group of cultured hUVEC was incubated with atorvastatin of 2,4,6,8 and 10 μmol/L for 2,4,8,12 and 24 h separately.The expression of EL mRNA in hUVEC was detected by quantitative competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The proliferation of hUVEC was observed by AgNORs analytical method. Results Atorvastatin markedly restrained the expression of EL mRNA in hUVEC.The effect appeared dose dependence and time dependence.With the effect of atorvastatin,the quantity of AgNORs were decreased.The downtrend was evident along with the increased concentration and the prolonged time.There was positive correlativity between the expression of EL mRNA and the quantity of AgNORs(r=0.963,p<0.01). Conclusions Atorvastatin dose-dependently and time-dependently restrained the proliferation of hUVEC.As a result,the expression of EL mRNA was decreased too.There was a positive correlativity between them.