To observe the expression of apolipoprotein A1 in transduced cultured muscle cells. Methods Bicistronic retrovirus vector containing human apolipoprotein A1 cDNA were constructed and packaged it into GP+E-86 and AM12 cell lines which was selected by G418. G418 resistant clone with high virus producing tiler was isolated. Mouse primary myoblasts and C2C12 mouse myoblasts were infected with recombinant virus supernatant. The content of apolipoprotein Al in cell culture medium was detected by ELISA. Results All of transduced mouse pti mary myoblasts and C2C12 cells gained and remained the ability for heterologous expression of human apolipoprotein Al even after differentiation into myotubes. Moreover, stable transduced C2C12 cell clones were generated by G418 selection, which effectively expressed human apolipoprotein Al up to 30 days. Conclusion The use of retrovirus vec tots to genetically modify myoblasts and then implantation back to skeletal muscle might be a safe and feasible strategy for gene therapy of atherosclerosis.