ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effect of RNA interference-mediated gene silencing of plasma membrane-related Ca(2+)-ATPase-1 (PMR1) gene on the insulin secretion in islet beta cells NIT-1 in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A small interfering RNA duplex (siPMR1) corresponding to the nucleotides 337-357 of mouse PMR1 cDNA was introduced into NIT-1 cells via liposomes. The gene silencing effect was assessed by RT-PCR, and the total insulin level in the transfected cells was measured by radioimmunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Transfection with siPMR1 resulted in obviously reduced PMR1 expression and increased insulin secretion in NIT-1 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The synthesized siPMR1 can significantly silence the expression of PMR1 and promote the secretion of insulin in the islet cells in vitro, which shed light on further studies of RNAi-based therapy of diabetes.</p>