Aim To investigate the effects of C-reactive protein(CRP) on the proliferation and chemotaxis of endothelial progenitor cells(EPC) of human peripheral blood. Methods Mononuclear cells were isolated from human peripheral blood and cultured for 7days.Attached cells were incubated with different concentration of CRP(1.0 mg/L,2.5 mg/L and 5.0 mg/L) for different times(24,48 and 72 h).MTT assay and quantified colony forming units(CFU) were used to assess the proliferation of EPC after treated with CRP.Meanwhile,chemotaxis assay was used to quntified EPC induced by VEGF.NO in the supernatant was measured by nitrate reductase assay.RT-PCR was employed to detect mRNA expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS). Results Incubation of EPC with CRP decreased the number and the function of EPC. Conclusions It is suggested that CRP can promote endothelial dysfunction by means of depressant EPC proliferation and migratory.