Abstract: To study the mechanims of cytomegalovirus infection by investigating the sequential changes of the receptor for advanced glycation end products in human umbilical vein endothelial cells with human cytomegalovirus infection. Methods： HUVEC was cultured and then infected by HCMV. Expression of RAGE mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results: RAGE mRNA was expressed at a low level in control group, and began to increase 4 hours after HCMV infection, rose to a significant level at 12 hours, reached the peak at 24 hours. After 48 hours, it declined obviously and remained a relatively high level at 72 hours (P＜0.01). Conclusions： HCMV infection can enhance the expression of RAGE mRNA in HUVEC in a timeeffect fashion, and may induce the inflammatory reaction by upregulating RAGE expression on endothelial cells, which facilitate the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis

Key words: Human cytomegalovirus, Infection, Receptor, the receptor for advanced glycation end products, Human umbilical vein endothelial cells