Treatment of U937 cells with mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP) for 20 h led to a dose-dependent loss of cell viability, assessed by propidium iodide (PI) staining with fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. The cytotoxic behavior of MEHP is attributed to the induction of apoptosis. MEHP induced activation of caspase-3, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and the morphological features of nuclear apoptosis. Analysis with LightCycler quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated the decrease of bcl-2 and increase of bax mRNA levels. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma antagonists, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and GW9662, significantly inhibited the MEHP-induced caspase-3 activity and apoptotic nuclear morphological changes. Furthermore, a PPARgamma ligand, rosiglitazone synergized the MEHP-induced caspase-3 activity. These results suggest that MEHP can induce apoptosis in U937 cells through modulation of the balance of bcl-2/bax in part by PPARgamma activation.