Objective · To investigate the effects of insulin-like growth factor 1 on prion encoding gene (PRNP) expression and amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism of PC12 cells. Methods · After PC12 cells were treated with 20, 40, 80 ng/mL IGF-1 for 24 h, real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of PRNP, and Western blotting was used to detect the protein levels of AKT, phosphorylation of AKT (pAKT), ERK and phosphorylation of AKT (pERK). The level of β-amyloid 42 (Aβ42) in supernatant fluid was detected by ELISA. Results · Compared with the blank control group, the expression of PRNP mRNA in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) model group was increased significantly (P<0.01). The expression of PRNP mRNA was significantly increased after cells were treated with 40 and 80 ng/mL IGF-1 for 24 h (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in APP protein expression among AD model group and three IGF-1 treatment groups (P>0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the level of Aβ42 in supernatant fluid of model group was decreased significantly with the increasing of IGF-1 concentration. The expression level of Aβ42 was decreased significantly in 40 and 80 ng/ml IGF-1 treatment group (P<0.05). The expression of AKT/pAKT, ERK/pERK in AD model group was significantly increased along with the increasing of IGF-1 concentration (P<0.05). Conclusion · IGF-1 could regulate the expression of PRNP gene and effect the metabolism of APP, which may be associated with PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway.