Acute　myeloid　leukemia　(AML)　is　one　of　the　most　common　hematological　malignancies　all　around　the　world.　MicroRNAs　have　been　determined　to　contribute　various　cancers　initiation　and　progression,　including　AML.　Although　microRNA-204　(miR-204)　exerts　anti-tumor　effects　in　several　kinds　of　cancers,　its　function　in　AML　remains　unknown.　In　the　present　study,　we　assessed　miR-204　expression　in　AML　blood　samples　and　cell　lines.　We　also　investigated　the　effects　of　miR-204　on　cellular　function　of　AML　cells　and　the　underlying　mechanisms　of　the　action　of　miR-204.　Our　results　showed　that　miR-204　expression　was　significantly　downregulated　in　AML　tissues　and　cell　lines.　In　addition,　overexpression　of　miR-204　induced　growth　inhibition　and　apoptosis　in　AML　cells,　including　AML5,　HL-60,　Kasumi-1　and　U937　cells.　Cell　cycle　analysis　further　confirmed　an　augmentation　in　theapoptotic　subG1　population　by　miR-204　overexpression.　Mechanistically,　baculoviral　inhibition　of　apoptosis　protein　repeat　containing　6　(BIRC6)　was　identified　as　a　direct　target　of　miR-204.　Enforcing　miR-204　expression　increased　the　luciferase　activity　and　expression　of　BIRC6,　as　well　as　p53　and　Bax　expression.　Moreover,　restoration　of　BIRC6　reversed　the　pro-apoptotic　effects　of　miR-204　overexpression　in　AML　cells.　Taken　together,　this　study　demonstrates　that　miR-204　causes　AML　cell　apoptosis　by　targeting　BIRC6,　suggesting　miR-204　may　play　an　anti-carcinogenic　role　in　AML　and　function　as　a　novel　biomarker　and　therapeutic　target　for　the　treatment　of　this　disease.　[BMB　Reports　2018;　51(9):　444-449].