As demonstrated by previously published reports, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was persistently activated in articular cartilage of OA rats (26,27). Caramés et al (14) revealed that rapamycin significantly upregulated Beclin1, LC3-I/II and ATG expression to inhibit apoptosis of cartilage cells and aid protection. Zhang et al (28) also demonstrated that inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway may inhibit OA development. In the present study, Beclin 1 overexpression reduced the expression levels of PI3K, and inhibited phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR. These **data** suggested that Beclin1 overexpression inhibits the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway to promote cell viability.