Abstract: Objective To study whether apoptingene induces apoptosis in hela cells via the activation caspase-8 and caspase-3.Methods The helacells were transiently transfected with recombinant pcD NAA 3 plasmid, which contained apoptin gene and the apoptosis was measured with DNA agaro seelectrophoresis, RT-PCR and flowcy tome try.Caspase-8 and caspase-3 relative activity was analyzed with colormietric a ssayatvarious time.Results The apoptin gene could induce apoptosis of helacells in vitro and the mRNA of apopting ene could be detected by RT-PCR.The activity of caspase-3 increased in hela cells after transfected with apoptin gene, but that of caspase-8 did not change.Conclusion Apoptin gene can induce apoptosis in hela cells viaactivation of caspase-3.