To study the regulation of c-fos and c-jun gene expression by introduction of wild-type P₅₃ gene and Rb gene, a P₅₃ gene recombinant adenovirus vector, AdCMV P₅₃, and a Rb gene recombinant adenovirus vector, AdCMV Rb, were transfected into the cultured vascular smooth muscle cells derived from human umbilical artery. The level of c-fos、c-jun mRNA was quantified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The content of c-Fos and c-Jun protein were detected by immunochemical staining. The senescent cells were characterized by β-galactosidase staining. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA was used for analysis of apoptosis. The results showed that introduction of wild-type P₅₃ could increase the level of c-fos、 c-jun mRNA and protein, inducing the apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells. The introduction of exogenous Rb gene could induce cell senescence and down regulate c-fos gene expression. However, c-jun expression in vascular smooth muscle cells remained constant following transfection with AdCMV Rb.