As the pivotal part of cardiovascular angiogenesis, endothelial cells dysfunction is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a tumor growth factor with important roles in cervical tumor formation, invasion, progression and metastasis. However, there was no report on effect of MIF on endothelial cells is unclear, and it is still unknown whether MIF is associated with angiogenesis of endothelial cells. Our study was focused on the effect of MIF and PD98059 on endothelial cells HUVEC cell line, so as to investigate the influence of MIF on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We also explored whether MIF will influence angiogenesis of endothelial cells via ERK/MAPK pathways. Endothelial cells HUVEC cells were conventionally cultured, and Western blot were used to detect the expression of MIF, ERK1 and VEGF proteins after HUVEC cells were intervened by MTT and PD98059. Inter-group difference was statistically assessed. Positive expressions of MIF, ERK1 and VEGF were observed in HUVEC cells. Proliferation activity in MIF group gradually increased after 24 h, 48 h or 72 h treatment (P<0.05). Expressions of ERK1 and VEGF were increased after MIF 48 h treatment (P<0.05). Proliferation activity in PD98059 group gradually decreased after 24 h, 48 h or 72 h treatment (P<0.05). Expressions of ERK1 and VEGF were decreased after MIF 48 h treatment (P<0.05). Compared with control group, expressions of ERK1, IL-2 and VEGF were significantly decreased in both MIF pre-stimulation +PD98059 inhibition group and PD98059 pre-exposure+MIF stimulation group (P<0.05), while no difference was observed between MIF pre-stimulation+PD98059 inhibition group and PD98059 pre-exposure+MIF stimulation group (P>0.05). Expressions of ERK1 and VEGF are involved in the process of endothelial cells HUVEC cell line. MIF is correlated with increased cell proliferation and promoted cardiovascular angiogenesis via ERK/MAPK pathway