Objective:To investigate the effect of advanced glycosylation end products(AGEs) on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells(DCs). Methods:Monocytes were purified (over 98%) using anti-CD14 microbeads. After cultured with DC Cellgro medium containing recombinated human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor(rhGM-CSF,100 μg/L) and recombinated human interleukin-4(rhIL-4,20 μg/L) for 8 days, monocytes were derived into immature DCs. Then they were exposed to AGE-HSA (0,200 μg/ml) for 24 h. Expression of VCAM-1 was semi-quantified by RT-PCR and Western-blot. At the same time, supernatants were collected and IL-12, IL-18 were analyzed by ELISA. Results:mRNA and protein of VCAM-1 incubated by 200 μg/ml AGE-HSA was higher than those of control at 24 h. Treatment of DCs with AGE-HSA resulted in nearly two times of the expression of VCAM-1(P < 0.05). The concentration of IL-12 and IL-18 was significantly higher than that of control(P < 0.05). Conclusion:AGEs can up-regulate the expression of VCAM-1 and induce the secretion of IL-12 and IL-18 in DCs. These findings may provide insight into the effect of DCs in processes of atherosclerosis.