The activation of the (pro)renin receptor (PRR) may be potentially active in the development of atherosclerotic plaques independent of angiotensin II. Our previous studies demonstrated that high glucose was able to induce the activation of PRR. The present study was designed to determine the function of oxidized low‑density lipoprotein (ox‑LDL) on the expression of PRR in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). Immunofluorescence revealed that PRR was expressed in HASMCs. HASMCs were cultured with 100 µg/ml ox‑LDL for 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h, respectively. Subsequently, HASMCs were cultured with 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 300 µg/ml ox‑LDL for 6 h, respectively. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis revealed that the expression of PRR was markedly upregulated in a time‑ and concentration‑dependent manner, which peaked at 6 h and 50 µg/ml, then slowly decreased. Therefore, PRR may contribute to the atherogenesis effect induced by ox‑LDL.