Abstract: Objective：To investigate the effect of hydroxycamptothecine (HCPT) on the expressions of survivin gene and protein during the apoptosis of MUTZ-1 cells, a human myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) cell line. Methods：After MUTZ-1 cells were incubated with HCPT (0, 1, 2, 4 μg/mL) for 6 h, their apoptotic rates were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Meanwhile, the level of survivin mRNA in MUTZ cells was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the level of survivin protein by immunocytochemistry and western blot. Results：After MUTZ-1 cells were incubated with 0, 1, 2 and 4 μg/mL of HCPT for 6 h, their apoptotic rates were (8.58±0.18)%, (12.10±1.04)%, (14.49±0.87)% and (27.34±1.38)%, respectively, the levels of survivin/β-actin mRNAs 0.87±0.08, 0.76±0.03, 0.67±0.03 and 0.45±0.04, the integral values 2.36±0.19, 1.50±0.11, 1.49±0.18 and 1.06±0.04, and the levels of survivin/β-actin proteins 0.80±0.09, 0.34±0.04, 0.25±0.02 and 0.05±0.01, respectively. Compared with the control (0 μg/mL HCPT), the apoptotic rates of the other three groups increased (F=158.7, P<0.05), and the levels of survivin/β-actin mRNAs, the integral values and the levels of survivin/β-actin proteins decreased (F=97.65, 14.57 and 37.42, respectively, P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between the apoptotic rate and the level of survivin mRNA expression (r=-0.85, P<0.01). Conclusion：HCPT induced the apoptosis of MUTZ-1 cells probably by down regulating the expressions of survivin mRNA and protein.