title: Retrovirus-mediated siRNA targeting TRPM7 gene induces apoptosis in RBL-2H3 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Calcium signaling is important for both normal physiologic processes and pathology of various diseases. Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) gene has been reported to be a potential candidate for calcium influx. The present study aimed to investigate the possible role of TRPM7 channels in apoptosis in rat basophilic leukemia mast cell line (RBL-2H3), which is widely used in mast cell-associated studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A recombinant retrovirus vector siRNA targeting rat TRPM7 gene was constructed and identified. Cellular survival was assessed by MTT. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry and TUNEL-FITC/Hoechst 33258 staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The transfection efficiency by retrovirus vector was about 60%-70%. Transfection with TRPM7 siRNA significantly reduced TRPM7 expression both at mRNA and protein levels. Suppression of TRPM7 expression by siRNA led to significantly decreased cellular survival rates and increased apoptosis rates in RBL-2H3 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that TRPM7 is involved in the apoptosis process in RBL-2H3 cells.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: N-M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: S-P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Z-Q
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Lv
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels; C486584:Trpm7 protein, rat