Objective To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) on inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HeLa cells of human cervical cancer. Methods HeLa cells were treated by TGF-β1 of 10 ng/mL for 72 h and the morphological characteristics of HeLa cell lines were observed under the electron microscope. The expressions of epithelial markers and mesenchymal markers relevant to EMT were detected by the real-time PCR and Western blotting. The invasion and migration of HeLa cells were detected by the wound healing assay and Transwell chambers. Results TGF-β1 could induce morphological alteration of HeLa cells from epithelial morphology to mesenchymal morphology, down-regulate the expressions of epithelial marker of E-cadherin and β-catenin, up-regulate the expressions of mesenchymal makers of Vimentin and N-cadherin, and significantly increase the invasion and migration of HeLa cells. Conclusion TGF-β1 can induce the incidence of EMT of HeLa cells and enhance the invasion and migration of HeLa cells.