Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of miR-188-5p on insulin resistance of Hep G2 cells. 
Methods Hep G2 cells were induced and treated with high concentration of glucose(30 mmol/L) for 24 h, to establish insulin resistance model. The experiment was divided into 6 groups: control group, model group, miR-188-5p mimic group, mimic-NC group, miR-188-5p inhibitor group, and inhibitor-NC group. The expression of miR-188-5p in Hep G2 cells was detected by qPCR, and the proliferation rate of Hep G2 cells was measured by MTT assay. The contents of glucose and glycogen in Hep G2 cells were detected by biochemical experiments, and the expression of glucose transporter type 4(GLUT4) was observed by immunofluorescence staining. 
Results Compared with the control group, miR-188-5p expression, cell proliferation rate, glucose uptake and glycogen content in the model group were significantly reduced(P＜0.05), and GLUT4 protein expression was reduced. Compared with the model group, the expression of miR-188-5p, cell proliferation rate, glucose uptake and glycogen content of miR-188-5p mimic group were significantly increased(P＜0.05), and the expression of GLUT4 protein was also increased, as opposed to miR-188-5p inhibitor group. 
Conclusion The expression of miR-188-5p is decreased in insulin-resistant Hep G2 cells. Up-regulation of miR-188-5p expression can promote cell proliferation and alleviate glucose metabolism disorders.

Key words: insulin resistance, miR-188-5p, glucose transporter type 4 protein