Abstract: Objective 　To study the effects of metallothionein on the proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical cell HeLa and their initiatory mechanism. Methods 　Add MT of different concent ration to HeLa cell, MTT assay was used to analyze proliferative rate and apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR were used to detect expression of p53 and PCNA. Results 　(1) Metallothionein exerted proliferation effect on HeLa cell in a concent ration-dependent way and the effect was most obviously in 1ng/ ml ( P < 0. 05) . (2) Apoptosis was inhibited by MT, and AI was 6. 35 ±1. 08 、4. 45 ±0. 95 and 2. 15 ±0. 77 when MT was on 0 、0. 01 and 1 ng/ ml. (3) The expression of p53 was significantly decreased and PCNA was significantly increased af ter MT treatment, and the effects were concent ration-dependent . Conclusion 　Metallothionein can enhance proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of human cervical cell HeLa, maybe through inhibiting the expression of p53 gene.