Aim To investigate the effect of integrin β1 on foam cells formation by RNA interference （RNAi）-mediated silencing. Methods Short hairpin RNAs against mouse integrin β1 was constructed. The foam cell formation induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein （ox-LDL） was analyzed in mouse RAW264.7 cells which were divided into three groups,including control group,siRNANC group （with transfection of siRNA negative） and siRNA group. Formation of foam cells and contents of total cholesterol were detected, atomic force microscope was used to observe the caveolaes on cell membrane,expression of CD36 protein and mRNA were detected. Results Decreased integrin β1 expression led to reduce foam cell formation and contents of total cholesterol in cells. Meanwhile, there were no caveolaes on cell membrane and expression of CD36 protein and mRNA were both decreased. Conclusions Silencing of integrin β1 reduces foam cells formation. Integrin β1 modulated the capacity of macrophages to take up ox-LDL possibly via CD36-dependent pathway.