【Abstract】 Objective To explore the expression of miR20a5p in different human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and investigate its effects on proliferation and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma Bel7402 cell line. Methods Reverse transcriptase Realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR) was used to detect the expression level of miR20a5p in human hepatic cells L02 and 7 hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Bel7402 cell lines overexpressing or lowexpressing miR20a5p were constructed by using Lipo3000. MTT assay and AnnexinVFITC/PI flow cytometry assay were used to examine the effects of miR20a5p on proliferation and apoptosis in Bel7402 cells. Immunoblotting was carried out to detect the effects of miR20a5p on expression levels of apoptosis related protein. Results The results of RTqPCR showed that the expressions of miR20a5p in 6 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines were lower than that in L02. After miR20a5p overexpressing or silencing, MTT assay showed the proliferation ability was significantly inhibited or promoted（P=0.011, 0.007）and AnnexinVFITC/PI flow cytometry assay showed the rates of apoptosis and early apoptosis were significantly enhanced or reduced（P=0.009、0.017）, as compared with the control group. Immunoblotting assay showed the overexpression of miR20a5p downregulated the expression of antiapoptosis protein XIAP, Survivin, Bcl2 and upregulated the apoptosis protein Bax and vice versa. Conclusion The expression level of miR20a5p in 6 hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines was lower than that in hepatic cells and miR20a5p can induce the apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation capability of Bel7402 cells.