Objective To investigate the effects of down-regulation of Beclin 1, which is an autophagy regulatory molecule, expression induced by RNA interference on the proliferation and apoptosis in skin fibroblasts of naked mole rat. Methods The expression levels of Beclin 1 were detected after starvation or H₂O₂treatment. The fibroblasts were transiently transfected with specific siRNA targeting Beclin 1 and then screened by real-time PCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined using CCK-8 detection kit and flow cytometry (FCM). The expressions of related genes were detected by Western blot. Results The expression of Beclin 1gene at mRNA and protein levels was significantly lower in fibroblasts of the naked mole rat. Starvation and H₂O₂treatment induced changes of the Beclin 1 expression. Inhibition of Beclin 1 gene expression can inhibit cell proliferation and induce early and late apoptosis. The protein levels of p53, BAX, Bcl2, LC3B, p-AKT and mTOR were reduced after transient transfection with Beclin 1-siRNA. Conclusions The expression of Beclin 1 in fibroblasts of naked mole rat are changed in response to starvation or H₂O₂ stimulation. Inhibition of Beclin 1 gene expression can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. Therefore, Beclin1 gene may play a regulatory role in autophagy, proliferation and apoptosis in the skin fibroblasts of naked mole rat.