ObjectiveTo analyze the effects of miR-451a on the proliferation and apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer BxPc3 cells, and to explore its molecular mechanisms.MethodsThe liposome transfection mimics of miR-451a were established in the BxPc3 cells, which were used as the research objects, and different concentrations (25, 50, 100 and 200 μmol/L) of miR-451a and blank control group were set up respectively. The expression of miR-451a mRNA in the BxPc3 cells after the transfection was detected by the qRT-PCR method. The effects of miR-451a at different concentrations on the proliferation, cell clone number, cell cycle and apoptosis, and the expressions of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), calcium binding protein 39 (CAB39), phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (p-PI3K) and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) proteins in the BxPc3 cells were detected by the MTT assay, plate cloning assay, flow cytometry, and Western blot, respectively.ResultsThe expressions of miR-451a mRNA in the transfected BxPc3 cells were significantly higher than in the blank control BxPc3 cells (P<0.050). The miR-451a could inhibit the proliferation of BxPc3 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner significantly (P<0.050), block the differentiation of BxPc3 cells in the G0/G1 phase, and induce the apoptosis with a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.050). The expressions of MIF, CAB39, p-PI3K, and p-AKT proteins in the BxPc3 cells were down-regulated with a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.050).ConclusionFrom results of this study, miR-451a could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of BxPc3 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, and its mechanisms might be related to inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.