Abstract： This study is to investigate the protein and mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in U937 foam cells and effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the cytokines.U937 cells were cultured with different concentrations of GbE (0.1,1,and 10 μg·L-1),and stimulated by 100 mg·L-1 oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 24 h.The expressions of interleukin-1β (IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in culture solution were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The results showed that incubated with 100 mg·L-1 ox-LDL for 24 h,the U937 cells became foam cells,the protein or mRNA expressions of IL-1β,TNF-α,IL-10,and its receptor IL-10R in U937 foam cells were higher markedly than those in normal U937 cells.When the cells were pretreated with GbE (0.1,1,and 10 μg·L-1),the increases of IL-1β and TNF-α in U937 foam cells were remarkably inhibited,but IL-10 expression increased greatly.Especially when cells were pretreated with 10 μg·L-1 GbE,the protein and mRNA expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α were markedly lower than those in U937 foam cells.The protein expression of IL-10 and mRNA expressions of IL-10 and its receptor IL-10R were markedly higher than those in U937 foam cells.GbE inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α,but up-regulated the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and its receptor IL-10R in U937 foam cells,which might be related with its anti-atherosclerotic actions.