Aim To explore the effects of high density lipoprotein 2 (HDL 2) and 3 (HDL 3) on expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)and CD36, and cellular lipid accumulation in THP-1 macrophages. Methods After exposure of the cultured THP-1 macrophages to oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) only, and ox-LDL and HDL 2 or HDL 3, lipid accumulation was valued by high performance liquid chromatography combined with enzyme assay. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ and CD36 were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, respectively. Results HDL increased PPARγ expression level and decreased expression level of CD36 in THP-1 macrophages, and reduced lipid accumulation of THP-1 cells. HDL 3 showed more potential effects of downregulating CD36, upregulating PPARγ, and decreasing cellular lipid accumulation in THP-1 macrophages than HDL 2. Conclusion The data demonstrates that both HDL 2 and HDL 3 inhibit cellular lipid accumulation induced by ox-LDL in THP-1 macrophages. Moreover the effects of HDL 3 is higher than HDL 2. The mechanism may be that HDL could inhibit cellular lipid accumulation by modulating expression of PPARγ-responsive gene, CD36, a receptor for ox-LDL.