In order to investigate the anti-leukemia effects of gambogic acid (GA) and its relation to the regulation of nucleoporin Nup88 in U937 cells in vitro, the inhibitory effect of GA on the growth of U937 cells was examined by using MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected by Annexin-Ⅴ FITC/PI double-labeled cytometry. Cell cycle regulation was studied by propidium iodide method. Both flow cytometry (FCM) and RT-PCR were employed to assess the expression of Nup88, and the localization of Nup88 was determined by confocal microscopy. The results indicated that GA had strong inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis induction activity in U937 cells in vitro in a timeand dose-dependent manner. The 24-h IC50 value was (1.019±0.134) mg/L. Moreover, GA induced arrest of U937 cells in G0/G1 phase. Over-expression of Nup88 was found in U937 cells, whereas GA could significantly down-regulate both the protein and mRNA levels of Nup88. Nup88 was diffusely distributed between nucleus and cytoplasm and was located at the cytoplasmic side of nuclear rim,and occasionally in cytoplasm. It is suggested that GA exerts its anti-leukemia effects by regulating the expression and distribution of nucleoporin Nup88. It promises to be new agent for the treatment of acute leukemia.