RNA-mediated interference indicates that SEL1L plays a role in pancreatic beta-cell growth

The specificity of SEL1L expression and promoter activity for the pancreatic cell population, its chromosomal location, as well as its similarities to the yeast Hrd3p protein, a component of HRD complex which is responsible for endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation of numerous ER-resident proteins, prompted us to study its effects on beta cell function. In this study we show that lowering SEL1L expression, by using the short interfering RNAs technology as well as antisense transfection, resulted in severe perturbation of betaTC-3 growth and metabolic activity. We hypothesize that SEL1L may exert its function by protecting the cells from ER stress and could counteract immune responses.