Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to be involved in the progression of acute pancreatitis (AP). The objective of our study was to investigate the effects of circ_0000284 on caerulein‐induced AR42J cell injury. To mimic AP in vitro, rat pancreatic acinar AR42J cells were treated with caerulein. The expression of circ_0000284 and miR‐10a‐5p was evaluated by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to determine the content of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α). Western blotting was applied to analyze the levels of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway‐related and apoptosis‐related proteins. Cell viability and apoptosis were monitored by Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The target connection between circ_0000284 and miR‐10a‐5p was verified by dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. AP induced inflammation in patients, and caerulein treatment increased apoptosis and inflammation in AR42J cells. Circ_0000284 was upregulated in serum of AP patients and caerulein‐induced AR42J cells, while Wnt/β‐catenin pathway was inactivated. Knockdown of circ_0000284 could decrease apoptosis and inflammation in caerulein‐induced AR42J cells, which was attenuated by miR‐10a‐5p inhibition or Wnt signaling pathway antagonist Dickkopf‐related protein 1 (DKK1). MiR‐10a‐5p was sponged by circ_000028 and was downregulated in caerulein‐induced AR42J cells. Circ_0000284 depletion could protect caerulein‐induced AR42J cells from apoptosis and inflammation by upregulating miR‐10a‐5p expression and activating Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, underscoring a potential target for AP therapy.