Objective To discuss the effects of high glucose on human mesangial cells (HMC)Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway,and the intervention of rhein on it.Methods High concentration of glucose (30 mmol/L) combined with different concentrations of rhein were used to intervene cultured human mesangial cells.The activity of mesangial cell proliferation after all the interventions was examined by MTT measurement.Total Wnt、β-catenin RNA was detected By RT-PCR in normal mesangial cells and cells intervened by high glucose and Rhein.Results ①Inhibition effect to human mesangial cells:compared with NG group for 24 h,48 h and 72 h (OD values were 0.169± 0.051,0.228±0.074,0.285±0.075),human mesangial cells proliferation in HG group(OD values were 0.307± 0.074,0.507 ±0.038,0.711±0.075),HG+R1 group(OD value were 0.241± 0.027,0.334±0.015,0.499±0.063),HG+R2 group (OD value were 0.244±0.081,0.386±0.033,0.531±0.011),and HG+R3 group(OD value were 0.277±0.036,0.407± 0.057,0.594±0.042) were iucreased significantly (P＜0.05、P＜0.01) ; Compared with HG group for 24 h,48 h and 72 h,the HG+R1 group,the HG+R2 group and the HG+ R3 group showed a downward trend at 24 h,but not significantly; but the trend decreased significantly at 48 h and 72 h,and the performance expressed a time,concentration-dependent (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).② In the normal state,the mesangial cells expressed s certain amount of Wnt and β-catenin,when they were stimulated by high glucose,the expression of Wnt、β-catenin in mRNA increased (P＜0.05) ; while the expression of them was significantly reduced in high glucose-induced mesangial cells in HG+R1 group,HG+R2 group and HG+R3 group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Rhein may inhibit the proliferation of high glucose-induced mesangial cells through the Wnt and β-catenin gene expression.