NIPAL1, encoding a magnesium influx transporter, is a gene with significant biological importance. It has been linked to various biological processes and diseases. In the context of pancreatic islet function, it may play a role in insulin secretion, and in the context of cancer, it has been associated with the progression of several types of malignancies. Additionally, it has been implicated in gout and other conditions [1,2,3,4,5,6].

In pancreatic β -cells, NIPAL1 knockdown decreased basal insulin secretion and total insulin content, while its overexpression increased total insulin content, suggesting that NIPAL1 expression is regulated by extracellular magnesium and that its down-regulation affects glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and intracellular insulin content, especially under hypomagnesemia [1]. In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), NIPAL1 expression correlated with cancer cell intravasation and poorer disease-free survival, and in functional analysis, it regulated the growth and adhesion of OSCC tumor cells and endothelial cells, indicating it might be a tumor-promoting factor and a useful molecular marker for OSCC [3].

In conclusion, NIPAL1 is a magnesium transporter-encoding gene that has demonstrated roles in insulin secretion in pancreatic islets and in the progression of certain cancers, such as OSCC. The study of NIPAL1 using functional studies like knockdown experiments in relevant cell models has provided insights into its function in these biological processes and disease conditions, contributing to our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms in diabetes and cancer research.