OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of signal transducers and activators of transcription 2(STAT2) on the apoptosis of oxidative stress-induced HEI-OC1 hair cells. METHODS: With random number table method,HEI-OC1 hair cells were divided into interference group and non-interference group. The artificial synthesis design targeted STAT2 small interfering RNA(siRNA) and opti-modified Eagle medium(opti-MEM) were added into the interference group, and only the opti-MEM was added into the non-interfere group. The 0, 20, 40, 60 μmol/L of tertiary butyl peroxide hydrogen(t-BHP) was added into the interference and non-interference group. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression of STAT2 and cysteine protease(caspase)-3. The apoptotic rate of hair cells was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In the interference group and non-interference group, the apoptotic rate of HEI-OC1 cells and the relative expression level of STAT2, Caspase-3 increased with the dose of t-BHP(P<0.01). The apoptotic rate of HEI-OC1 cells and the relative expression level of Caspase-3 in the interference group with 20, 40, 60 μmol/L of t-BHP were higher than that of the 20, 40 μmol/L group(P<0.01). The apoptotic rate of HEI-OC1 cells in the interference group was higher than those in the non-interference group with the same dose(P<0.01), while the relative expression level of STAT2 was lower than those in the non-interference group with the same dose(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Inhibiting oxidative stress and STAT2 expression in hair cells can lead to aggravation of apoptosis. STAT2 has anti-apoptotic effect.