In the present study, we first found that ATG5 is expressed in an opposite pattern to miR-205-5p in HCC tumor tissues and cell lines, and the results of dual-luciferase reporter assays identified that miR-205-5p could inhibit the transcription of ATG5 by binding directly to its 3′UTR. The gene discussed is ATG5; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.