Objective:To evaluate the effect of miR-497 on regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting Bcl-2 in liver cancer cells. Methods:We tested liver cancer tissue and para-carcinoma tissue and used RT-PCR or Western blot to detect the expression of miR-497and Bcl-2 protein. We also tested the liver cancer cel HepG2 transfected with miR-497 mimics and mimic control. The expressions of miR-497and Bcl-2 protein were detected by RT-PCR or Western blot. Cell proliferation activity was detected by the MTT method, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and cel luciferase activity was detected by the dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment. Results:1) Compared with para-carcinoma tissue, the miR-497 expression of liver cancer tissue significantly decreased (P<0.05), whereas the Bcl-2 protein expression of liver cancer tissue significantly increased (P<0.05). 2) Compared with transfection mimic control, transfection miR-497 mimics could increase the miR-497 expression of liver cancer cel HepG2 (P<0.05) and decrease the Bcl-2 protein expression of liver cancer cel HepG2 (P<0.05). 3) Compared with transfection mimic control, co-transfection with miR-497 mimics and Bcl-2-WT could significantly decrease the luciferase activity of liver cancer cell HepG2 (P<0.05). 4) Compared with transfection mimic control, the proliferative activity of liver cancer cell HepG2 significantly decreased after transfection with miR-497 mimics (P<0.05). Compared with transfection miR-497 mimics, the proliferative activity of liver cancer cell HepG2 significantly increased after transfection with miR-497 mimics+Bcl-2 (P<0.05). 5) Compared with transfection mimic control, the total apoptosis rate of liver cancer cell HepG2 significantly increased after transfection with miR-497 mimics (P<0.05). Compared with transfection miR-497 mimics, the total apoptosis rate of liver cancer cell HepG2 significantly decreased after transfection with miR-497 mimics+Bcl-2 (P<0.05). Conclusion:In liver cancer cel s, miR-497 could target Bcl-2 to inhibit cel proliferation and enhance cell apoptosis.