Objective To investigate the effect of miR-214 on the apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells by regulating the activation of AKT signaling pathway through targeting PTEN.

Methods The 5-8F and 6-10B NPC cells were transfected with miR-214 inhibitor. MTT assay was performed to assess cell proliferation. Annexin-V/PI staining assay was used to evaluate cell apoptosis. The effects of miR-214 inhibitor on the expression levels of PTEN, AKT signaling pathway and apoptosis-associated proteins were assessed by Western blot or real-time PCR assay. PTEN were knocked down using the corresponding shRNA to investigate the effect of miR-214 inhibitor on the apoptosis of NPC cells.

Results miR-214 inhibitor suppressed the growth and induced the apoptosis of 5-8F and 6-10B cells. miR-214 regulated the expression of PTEN through targeting the 3'-UTR. Inhibition of miR-214 promoted PTEN expression, inactivated AKT signaling pathway, and then regulated downstream cell cycle and apoptosis-associated proteins expression. Knockdown of PTEN reversed the effects of miR-214 inhibitor on AKT signaling and cell apoptosis.

Conclusion miR-214 could regulate the apoptosis of NPC cells through directly targeting PTEN and then activating AKT signaling pathway.