Objective To study the effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on the proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells, and the mRNA expression of AD related protiens. Methods Bovine serum albumin-AGEs (BSA-AGEs) were prepared by incubation of BSA with glucose in vitro. SH-SY5Y cells were incubated with different concentrations of BSA-AGEs. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay; cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry; mRNA levels of APLP1, IL-6 and HMGB-1 were determined by RT-PCR. Results After incubation with BSA-AGEs for 48 h, SH-SYSY cell proliferation was significantly inhibited and cell apoptosis was induced; the cells were found to be arrested at G1/G0; these effects were dose-dependent. RT-PCR results showed that mRNA levels of IL-6, APLP1 and HMGB-1 were significantly up-regulated. Conclusion BSA-AGEs inhibit the cell proliferation and induce the apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells, and stimulate the expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting a possible important role of AGEs in pathogenesis and development of AD.