The purpose of this study was to identfiy genetic targets in the vasculature for estrogen by profiling genes expressed in female human aortic endothelial cells exposed to various doses of 17 ß-estradiol at differing concentrations and for differing periods of time. Our approach employed a RT-PCR-based cloning strategy of DNA differential display analysis (dd-PCR), with differential expression verified by semi-quantitative PCR performed with gene specific primers. A significant increase in mRNA expression in response to17 ß-estradiol was observed for the following three genes: aldose reductase (3.4 fold), caspase homologue (CASH) alpha protein (4.2 fold), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) intron e (2.3 fold). For all three up-regulated genes, estradiol induced up-regulation occurred with a similar time course and temporally clustered to the first 24 hrs following hormone treatment. In addition, the effect of estradiol dose on gene expression was consistent and occurred at physiological concentrations. Our results describe previously uncharacterized estradiol-sensitive time and dose-dependent regulation of genes with potential importance to vascular function in human endothelial cells.