AIM: To study the effects of rhIFN-? and r hI L-2 on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation, migration, cell cycle and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). METHODS: Cultured HUVECs were used as model to determine the cel l proliferation with MTT method. Cell cycle was analyzed by cytometry. The cell migration was investigated by agarose scraping method and vascular endothelial g rowth factor (VEGF) content in supernatant of cultured HUVEC was determined by e nzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The growth and migrating number of endothelial cells in rhIFN-? group were 0.199?0.009 and 75.750?23.330, in rhIL-2 group was 0 .217?0.005 and 49.250?8.140, and in combined group was 0.183?0.080 and 40.500?17.230, respectively. In comparison with control group (0.248?0.005 and 160.500?13.220), the effects showed more significant (all P0.05). CONCLUSIONS: rhIFN-? and rhIL-2 show inhibitory effect on vasc ular endothelial cell proliferation, migration and DNA synthesis. When used in c ombination, synergistic effect of rhIFN-? and rhIL-2 is observed, suggesting th at these cytokines play an important role in angiogenesis diseases.