Effect of Dietary Selenium and Cancer Cell Xenograft on Peripheral T and B Lymphocytes in Adult Nude Mice

Selenium (Se) is known to regulate tumorigenesis and immunity at the nutritional and supranutritional levels. Because the immune system provides critical defenses against cancer and the athymic, immune-deficient NU/J nude mice are known to gradually develop CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells, we investigated whether B and T cell maturation could be modulated by dietary Se and by tumorigenesis in nude mice. Fifteen homozygous nude mice were fed a Se-deficient, Torula yeast basal diet alone (Se−) or supplemented with 0.15 (Se+) or 1.0 (Se++) mg Se/kg (as Na₂SeO₄) for 6 months, followed by a 7-week time course of PC-3 prostate cancer cell xenograft (2 × 10⁶ cells/site, 2 sites/mouse). Here, we show that peripheral B cell levels decreased in nude mice fed the Se −  or Se++ diet and the CD4⁺ T cell levels increased in mice fed the Se++ diet. During the PC-3 cell tumorigenesis, dietary Se status did not affect peripheral CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells in nude mice whereas mice fed with the Se++ diet appeared to exhibit greater peripheral CD25⁺CD4⁺ T cells on day 9. Dietary Se status did not affect spleen weight in nude mice 7 weeks after the xenograft. Spleen weight was associated with frequency of peripheral CD4⁺, but not CD8⁺ T cells. Taken together, dietary Se at the nutritional and supranutritional levels regulates peripheral B and T cells in adult nude mice before and after xenograft with PC-3 prostate cancer cells.     

选择性磷酸二酯酶4 抑制剂ZL-n-91 对人前列腺癌PC-3 细胞和裸鼠移植瘤的影响

目的:研究选择性磷酸二酯酶4抑制剂ZL-n-91对人前列腺癌PC-3细胞人前列腺癌PC-3细胞和裸鼠移植瘤的影响。方法:将不同浓度的ZL-n-91(10,50,100,200μM)分别处理体外培养的前列腺癌PC-3细胞24 h和48 h,用CCK-8法测定ZL-n-91对前列腺癌PC-3细胞增殖的影响;将人前列腺癌PC-3细胞皮下种植裸鼠,待瘤体积达到100~200 mm3,口服ZL-n-91,定期测定动物体重、肿瘤体积、肿瘤重量、计算抑瘤率;采用免疫组织化学检测肿瘤组织Ki67的表达。结果:ZL-n-91能抑制PC-3细胞的增殖,药物浓度为100,200μM时,作用24 h后其抑制率分别达23.7%、58.1%,作用48 h后其抑制率分别达36.5%、70%。与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.001),并且其抑制增殖作用呈浓度和时间依赖性。荷瘤裸鼠经ZL-n-91治疗12天开始,给药组小鼠肿瘤体积明显小于对照组(P0.05),给药32天时,给药组肿瘤体积和重量约为对照组的1/2倍,其抑瘤率高达45.96%;免疫组化检测肿瘤组织中Ki67的表达,定量分析对照组和给药组阳性率分别为(40.7±0.18)%和(18.11±0.06)%,结果显示给药组小鼠肿瘤的增殖明显弱于对照组(P0.001)。结论:ZL-n-91对人前列腺癌PC-3细胞及移植瘤的生长有明显的抑制作用。     

Effect of simulated American,Bulgarian, and Japanese human diets and of selenium supplementation on the incidence of virally induced mammary tumors in female mice

In attempts to simulate the effects of diet on human breast cancer development groups of female C3H mice infected with mammary tumor virus (MMTV-) were maintained on diets formulated to resemble the typical American, Bulgarian, and Japanese human diets. The incidence of mammary tumors was the highest (84%) in group of mice receiving the simulated meat- and fat-rich American diet, which was also low in selenium (Se content: 0.15 ppm). The appearance of mammary tumors was delayed in the mice maintained on the simulated Bulgarian diet, and the final tumor incidence (27%) paralleled the correspondingly lower Bulgarian breast cancer incidence. The simulated Bulgarian diet contained more Se (0.25 ppm), and was lower in fat, meat, and sugar and higher in complex carbohydrates (cereals) than the simulated American diet. In the mice fed the simulated Japanese diet, the appearance of mammary tumors was also delayed, and the tumor incidence was diminished to 47%. In this diet, fish meal was a major source of Se, which is known to have low bioavailability. Additional supplementation of the Japanese-type diet with bioavailable Se (1 ppm) lowered the tumor incidence to 10%. Based on these studies, recommendations are made for breast cancer risk reduction by dietary means.     

The chemical form of selenium affects insulinomimetic properties of the trace element: investigations in type II diabetic dbdb mice

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of oral selenate application in comparison to selenium deficiency and selenite treatment on the development of the diabetic status (glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and activities of glycolytic and gluconeogenic marker enzymes) in dbdb mice, representing a type II diabetic animal model. Therefore 21 adult male dbdb mice were assigned to 3 experimental groups of 7 animals each and put on a selenium deficient diet (< 0.03 mg/kg diet) based on torula yeast. Group 0Se was kept on selenium deficiency for 10 weeks while the mice of the groups SeIV and SeVI were supplemented daily with 15% of their individual LD(50) of sodium selenite or sodium selenate in addition to the diet. After 10 weeks a distinct melioration of the diabetic status indicated by a corrected glucose tolerance and a lowered insulin resistance was measured in selenate treated mice (group SeVI) in comparison to their selenium deficient and selenite treated companions and to their initial status. Activities of the glycolytic marker enzymes hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase were increased 1.7 to 3-fold in liver and/or adipose tissue by selenate treatment as compared to mice on selenium deficiency and mice with selenite administration. In contrast selenate treatment (SeVI) repressed the activity of liver pyruvate carboxylase the first enzyme in gluconeogenesis by about 33% in comparison to the selenium deficient (0Se) and selenite treated mice (SeIV). However the current study revealed an insulinomimetic role for selenate (selenium VI) also in type II diabetic animals due to a melioration of insulin resistance. In contrast selenium deficiency and especially selenite (selenium IV) impaired the diabetic status of dbdb mice, demonstrating the need for investigations on the insulinomimetic action of selenium due to the metabolism of different selenium compounds.     

Combination of Quercetin and 2-Methoxyestradiol Enhances Inhibition of Human Prostate Cancer LNCaP and PC-3 Cells Xenograft Tumor Growth

Quercetin and 2-Methoxyestradiol (2-ME) are promising anti-cancer substances. Our previous in vitro study showed that quercetin synergized with 2-Methoxyestradiol exhibiting increased antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity in both androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-independent PC-3 human prostate cancer cell lines. In the present study, we determined whether their combination could inhibit LNCaP and PC-3 xenograft tumor growth in vivo and explored the underlying mechanism. Human prostate cancer LNCaP and PC-3 cells were inoculated subcutaneously in male BALB/c nude mice. When xenograft tumors reached about 100 mm³, mice were randomly allocated to vehicle control, quercetin or 2-Methoxyestradiol singly treated and combination treatment groups. After therapeutic intervention for 4 weeks, combination treatment of quercetin and 2-ME i) significantly inhibited prostate cancer xenograft tumor growth by 46.8% for LNCaP and 51.3% for PC-3 as compared to vehicle control group, more effective than quercetin (28.4% for LNCaP, 24.8% for PC3) or 2-ME (32.1% for LNCaP, 28.9% for PC3) alone; ii) was well tolerated by BALB/c mice and no obvious toxic reactions were observed; iii) led to higher Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cleaved caspase-3 protein expression and apoptosis rate; and iv) resulted in lower phosphorylated AKT (pAKT) protein level, vascular endothelial growth factor protein and mRNA expression, microvascular density and proliferation rate than single drug treatment. These effects were more remarkable compared to vehicle group. Therefore, combination of quercetin and 2-ME can serve as a novel clinical treatment regimen owning the potential of enhancing antitumor effect on prostate cancer in vivo and lessening the dose and side effects of either quercetin or 2-ME alone. These in vivo results will lay a further solid basis for subsequent researches on this novel therapeutic regimen in human prostate cancer.     

Anticancer effects of a plant lignan 7-hydroxymatairesinol on a prostate cancer model in vivo

Clinical intervention studies and experimental studies with lignan-rich diets suggest that lignans may have inhibitory effects on prostate cancer, but no clinical or experimental studies with purified lignans have been published. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a plant lignan 7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR) on LNCaP human prostate cancer xenografts in athymic mice. Athymic nude male mice were injected subcutaneously with LNCaP cells. Starting 3 days after tumor cell injections, a control diet or a control diet supplemented with 0.15% or 0.30% of HMR was administered to mice and the tumor take rate and growth was observed for 9 weeks. HMR diet inhibited the growth of LNCaP tumors. Mice treated with HMR had smaller tumor volume, lower tumor take rate, increased proportion of nongrowing tumors, and higher tumor cell apoptotic index compared with controls. Furthermore, the cell proliferation index was reduced in mice receiving the 0.30% HMR diet compared with mice receiving the control diet. Our results suggest that dietary HMR started at the early phase of the tumor development inhibits the growth of the LNCaP human prostate cancer xenografts in athymic male mice.     

Deletion of Glutathione Peroxidase-2 Inhibits Azoxymethane-Induced Colon Cancer Development

The selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase-2 (GPx2) appears to have a dual role in carcinogenesis. While it protected mice from colon cancer in a model of inflammation-triggered carcinogenesis (azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate treatment), it promoted growth of xenografted tumor cells. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of GPx2 in a mouse model mimicking sporadic colorectal cancer (azoxymethane-treatment only). GPx2-knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were adjusted to an either marginally deficient (−Se), adequate (+Se), or supranutritional (++Se) selenium status and were treated six times with azoxymethane (AOM) to induce tumor development. In the −Se and ++Se groups, the number of tumors was significantly lower in GPx2-KO than in respective WT mice. On the +Se diet, the number of dysplastic crypts was reduced in GPx2-KO mice. This may be explained by more basal and AOM-induced apoptotic cell death in GPx2-KO mice that eliminates damaged or pre-malignant epithelial cells. In WT dysplastic crypts GPx2 was up-regulated in comparison to normal crypts which might be an attempt to suppress apoptosis. In contrast, in the +Se groups tumor numbers were similar in both genotypes but tumor size was larger in GPx2-KO mice. The latter was associated with an inflammatory and tumor-promoting environment as obvious from infiltrated inflammatory cells in the intestinal mucosa of GPx2-KO mice even without any treatment and characterized as low-grade inflammation. In WT mice the number of tumors tended to be lowest in +Se compared to −Se and ++Se feeding indicating that selenium might delay tumorigenesis only in the adequate status. In conclusion, the role of GPx2 and presumably also of selenium depends on the cancer stage and obviously on the involvement of inflammation.     

The bioavailability of various selenium compounds to a marine wading bird

The uptake of dietary selenium (about 3.5 mg/kg AF dry wt) as selenomethionine, selenocystine, selenite, selenate, and fish selenium in the plasma and red blood cells (RBC) of the oystercatcher has been investigated. The birds received the various selenium compounds subsequently, for at least 9 wk. After dietary supplementation of selenocystine, selenite, and selenate, plasma selenium was about 350 μg/L and RBC selenium 2.1 mg/kg dry wt. After supplementation of selenomethionine, the plasma concentration increased to 630 μg/L, and the RBC concentration to 4.1 mg/kg dry wt. When the fodder contained 3.1 mg/kg fish Se, an average plasma and RBC concentration of 415 μg/L and 14.4 mg/kg dry wt, respectively, was measured. The maximal increase of the selenium concentration in the plasma was attained at first sampling, 14 d after a change in dietary selenium (selenomethione or fish Se); the uptake seemed to be a concentration-regulated process. RBC concentrations (γ in mg/kg dry wt) increased with time (X in d) according toY=a?be^?cX . Fifty percent of the total increase was attained within 17d, suggesting that diffusion into the RBC played a role. The selenium concentration in the plasma was positively correlated with the (fish) Se concentration in the fodder; the RBC concentration (60 d after the change in diet) was positively correlated with the plasma concentration. When the diet contained fish Se, the blood selenium concentrations of the captive birds were similar to the concentrations measured in field birds. Fish Se is a yet undetermined selenium compound. The present experiment showed that fish Se differed from selenomethionine, selenocystine, selenite, or selenate in uptake from the food and uptake in the RBC.     

Co-inoculation of prostate cancer cells with U937 enhances tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have been implicated in promoting tumor growth and development. Here we present evidence that demonstrates that co-inoculation of male athymic nude mice with PC-3 prostate cancer cells and U937 promonocytic cells enhances tumor growth and increases tumor angiogenesis. Male athymic nude mice were co-inoculated with PC-3 and U937 cells (control or IL-4 stimulated) and tumor growth was monitored over time. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor specimens was performed for proliferation markers (e.g., Ki67) and the effects of IL-4 stimulation on U937 cells were analyzed for chemokine expression. The presence of U937 cells increased the rate of tumor growth in vivo and stimulated increased microvascular density within the tumor bed. Stimulation of U937 cells with IL-4 resulted in a significant increase in several pro-angiogenic and pro-tumor chemokines (e.g., CCL2). Co-inoculation increases prostate cancer growth via upregulation of chemokines that induce angiogenesis within the tumor.     

Selenoprotein expression is regulated at multiple levels in prostate cells

Selenium supplementation in a population with low basal blood selenium levels has been reported to decrease the incidence of several cancers including prostate cancer. Based on the clinical findings, it is likely that the antioxidant function of one or more selenoproteins is responsible for the chemopreventive effect, although low molecular weight seleno-compounds have also been posited to selectively induce apoptosis in transformed cells. To address the effects of selenium supplementation on selenoprotein expression in prostate cells, we have undertaken an analysis of antioxidant selenoprotein expression as well as selenium toxicity in non-tumorigenic prostate epithelial cells （RWPE- 1 ） and prostate cancer cells （LNCaP and PC-3）. Our results show that two of the glutathione peroxidase family members （GPX1 and GPX4） are highly induced by supplemental selenium in prostate cancer cells but only slightly induced in RWPE-1 cells. In addition, GPX 1 levels are dramatically lower in PC-3 cells as compared to RWPE- 1 or LNCaP cells. GPX2 protein and mRNA, however, are only detectable in RWPE-1 cells. Of the three selenium compounds tested （sodium selenite, sodium selenate and selenomethionine）, only sodium selenite shows toxicity in a physiological range of selenium concentrations. Notably and in contrast to previous studies, RWPE-1 cells were significantly more sensitive to selenite than either of the prostate cancer cell lines. These results demonstrate that selenoproteins and selenium metabolism are regulated at multiple levels in prostate cells.     

Increased proliferative activity in selenium-deficient mouse liver

Male albino NMRI mice were fed a selenium-deficient (Se-), torula yeast-based diet containing less than 10 ppb Se for at least 2 months (Se-) while a control group received the same diet supplemented (Se+) with 330 ppb Se as Na2SeO3. The Se-(-)animals showed multiple enzyme modulations of liver enzyme activities indicating that they were in a severely Se- state. No significant difference in the basic DNA synthesis rate of Se-(-)animals compared to Se+ controls was measured. However, when liver cell proliferation was induced by either hepatopoietin pretreatment or by partial hepatectomy, an about 3-fold increase in DNA replication rates was found in Se- compared to controls. We conclude that the enhanced proliferative activity in Se- mouse liver is expressed in an emergency situation.     

Somatostatin Derivate (smsDX) Attenuates the TAM-Stimulated Proliferation,Migration and Invasion of Prostate Cancer via NF-κB Regulation

Tumor development and progression are influenced by macrophages of the surrounding microenvironment. To investigate the influences of an inflammatory tumor microenvironment on the growth and metastasis of prostate cancer, the present study used a co-culture model of prostate cancer (PCa) cells with tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)-conditioned medium (MCM). MCM promoted PCa cell (LNCaP, DU145 and PC-3) growth, and a xenograft model in nude mice consistently demonstrated that MCM could promote tumor growth. MCM also stimulated migration and invasion in vitro. Somatostatin derivate (smsDX) significantly attenuated the TAM-stimulated proliferation, migration and invasion of prostate cancer. Immunohistochemistry revealed that NF-κB was over-expressed in PCa and BPH with chronic inflammatory tissue specimens and was positively correlated with macrophage infiltration. Further investigation into the underlying mechanism revealed that NF-κB played an important role in macrophage infiltration. SmsDX inhibited the paracrine loop between TAM and PCa cells and may represent a potential therapeutic agent for PCa.     

Alterations in the intermediary metabolism of selenium-deficient mice

Male albino mice were pair-fed a torula yeast-based selenium-deficient (Se-) diet containing 10 ppb selenium for 4 months, while a control group (Se+) received a similar diet supplemented with 330 ppb selenium as Na2SeO3. In addition to previously observed modulations of drug-metabolizing enzymes (Reiter, R. and Wendel, A. (1985) Biochem. Pharmacol. 34, 2287-2290), an increase of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity and succinate dehydrogenase activity in liver by about 60% was found. In vivo, an increased 14CO2 exhalation from a tracer dose of glucose either labeled in the C-1- or C-6 position was observed in selenium-deficient mice. However, no difference in the total CO2 exhalation of Se(-)- as compared to Se+-mice was detectable. In line with the assumption that Se(-)-mice have an increased glucose turnover, Se(-)-mice exhibited a greater glucose tolerance when treated with an oral glucose load of 2.5 mg glucose/kg body weight. Also, the Se(-)-mice had a lower blood glucose level as compared to Se+-controls (89 +/- 3 versus 110 +/- 12 mg glucose/100 ml blood). Further in vitro experiments with red blood cells from Se(-)-mice showed that erythrocytes did not contribute to an increased CO2 formation from glucose via the pentose phosphate shunt. No significant differences between Se(-)- and Se+-animals were found in the profile of urinary metabolites, including ketone bodies and nitrogen excretion. These findings suggest a hitherto unknown involvement of selenium in specific regulatory sites of intermediary metabolism.     

紫杉醇抑制前列腺癌增殖的体内实验研究

目的探讨紫杉醇对人前列腺癌细胞PC-3增殖的体内抑制作用。方法建立体内绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）标记的人雄激素非依赖性前列腺癌细胞PC-3裸鼠原位移植瘤模型,观察紫杉醇对裸鼠前列腺癌原位移植瘤的体积、重量的影响。结果裸鼠模型体内实验显示,与对照组（100μL生理盐水）相比,紫杉醇处理组（0.5 mg/kg）在给药第18天后能显著抑制前列腺肿瘤的体积（P〈0.05）;紫杉醇处理组在抑制前列腺肿瘤重量方面与对照组相比亦有明显抑制作用（P〈0.05）。与对照组相比G31P处理组VEGF（P〈0.05）的表达差异具有统计学意义（免疫组化法）。结论紫杉醇在体内实验中能明显抑制人雄激素非依赖性前列腺癌细胞系PC-3的增殖。     

Compendium of the antidiabetic effects of supranutritional selenate doses. In vivo and in vitro investigations with type II diabetic db/db mice

In recent years, a number of investigations on the antidiabetic effects of supranutritional selenate doses have been carried out. Selenate (selenium oxidation state +VI) was shown to possess regulatory effects on glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and fatty acid metabolism, metabolic pathways which are disturbed in diabetic disorders. An enhanced phosphorylation of single components of the insulin signalling pathway could be shown to be one molecular mechanism responsible for the insulinomimetic properties of selenate. In type II diabetic animals, a reduction of insulin resistance could be shown as an outcome of selenate treatment. The present study with db/db mice was performed to investigate the antidiabetic mechanisms of selenate in type II diabetic animals. Twenty-one young adult female db/db mice were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (selenium deficient=0Se, selenite-treated group=SeIV and selenate-treated group=SeVI) with seven animals each. Mice of all groups were fed a selenium-deficient diet for 8 weeks. The animals of the groups SeIV and SeVI were supplemented with increasing amounts of sodium selenite or sodium selenate up to 35% of the LD50 in week 8 in addition to the diet by tube feeding. Selenate treatment reduced insulin resistance significantly and reduced the activity of liver cytosolic protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) as negative regulators of insulin signalling by about 50%. In an in vitro inhibition test selenate (oxidation state +VI) per se did not inhibit PTP activity. In this test, however, selenium compounds of the oxidation state +IV were found to be the actual inhibitors of PTP activity. Selenate administration in vivo further led to characteristic changes in the selenium-dependent redox system, which could be mimicked in an in vitro assay and provided further evidence for the intermediary formation of SeIV metabolites. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), another important factor in the context of insulin resistance and lipid metabolism, was significantly increased by selenate application. In particular, liver gluconeogenesis and lipid metabolism were influenced strongly by selenate treatment. In conclusion, our results showed that supranutritional selenate doses influenced two important mechanisms involved in insulin-resistant diabetes, namely, PTPs and PPARgamma, which, in turn, can be assumed as being responsible for the changes in intermediary metabolism, e.g., gluconeogenesis and lipid metabolism. The initiation of these mechanisms thereby seems to be coupled to the intermediary formation of the selenium oxidation state +IV (selenite state) from selenate.     

Investigation of the selenium metabolism in cancer cell lines

The aim of this work was to compare different selenium species for their ability to induce cell death in different cancer cell lines, while investigating the underlying chemistry by speciation analysis. A prostate cancer cell line (PC-3), a colon cancer cell line (HT-29) and a leukaemia cell line (Jurkat E6-1) were incubated with five selenium compounds representing inorganic as well as organic Se compounds in different oxidation states. Selenomethionine (SeMet), Se-methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys), methylseleninic acid (MeSeA), selenite and selenate in the concentration range 5-100 μM were incubated with cells for 24 h and the induction of cell death was measured using flow cytometry. The amounts of total selenium in cell medium, cell lysate and the insoluble fractions was determined by ICP-MS. Speciation analysis of cellular fractions was performed by reversed phase, anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography and ICP-MS detection. The selenium compounds exhibited large differences in their ability to induce cell death in the three cell lines and the susceptibilities of the cell lines were different. Full recovery of selenium in the cellular fractions was observed for all Se compounds except MeSeA. Speciation analysis showed that MeSeA was completely transformed during the incubations, while metabolic conversion of the other Se compounds was limited. Production of volatile dimethyl diselenide was observed for MeSeA and MeSeCys. MeSeA, MeSeCys and selenite showed noticeable protein binding. Correlations between cell death induction and the Se compounds transformations could not be demonstrated.     

Geraniol inhibits prostate cancer growth by targeting cell cycle and apoptosis pathways

The progression of prostate cancer is associated with escape from cell cycle arrest and apoptosis under androgen-depleted conditions. Here, we found that geraniol, a naturally occurring monoterpene, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cultured cells and tumor grafted mice using PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Geraniol modulated the expression of various cell cycle regulators and Bcl-2 family proteins in PC-3 cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we showed that the combination of sub-optimal doses of geraniol and docetaxel noticeably suppresses prostate cancer growth in cultured cells and tumor xenograft mice. Therefore, our findings provide insight into unraveling the mechanisms underlying escape from cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and developing therapeutic strategies against prostate cancer.     

Selenium deficiency impairs corticosterone and leptin responses to adrenocorticotropin in the rat

Selenium deficiency causes oxidative stress and impairs steroidogenesis in vitro. Leptin is closely related to the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Leptin inhibits the HPA axis at the central level while corticosteroids have been shown to stimulate leptin secretion in most studies. We hypothesized that oxidative stress impairs adrenal steroidogenesis and decreases leptin production in vivo. The goal of this study was to investigate in rats the effects of selenium deficiency and oxidative stress on adrenal function and on leptin concentrations. Weanling rats were fed a selenium-deficient (Se-) or selenium-sufficient (Se+) diet for 4-10 weeks. Selenium deficiency caused a marked decrease in liver (> or = 99%) and adrenal (> or = 81%) glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Selenium deficiency did not affect basal and short-term adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) stimulated corticosterone or leptin concentrations. In contrast, after long-term ACTH stimulation, selenium deficiency caused a doubling in adrenal isoprostane content and blunted the increase in corticosterone and leptin concentrations observed in Se+ animals. Plasma leptin concentrations were 50% lower in Se- compared to Se+ animals following long-term ACTH. Our results suggest that oxidative stress causes a decrease in circulating corticosterone in response to ACTH, and, as a consequence, a decrease in plasma leptin concentrations.     

Effect of dietary selenium on the promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis by 3,3', 4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl and 2,2', 4,4', 5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that have promoting activity in the liver. PCBs induce oxidative stress, which may influence carcinogenesis. Epidemiological studies strongly suggest an inverse relationship between dietary selenium (Se) and cancer. Despite evidence linking Se deficiency to hepatocellular carcinoma and liver necrosis, the underlying mechanisms for Se cancer protection in the liver remain to be determined. We examined the effect of dietary Se on the tumor promoting activities of two PCBs congeners, 3,3', 4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB-77) and 2,2', 4,4', 5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-153) using a 2-stage carcinogenesis model. An AIN-93 torula yeast-based purified diet containing 0.02 (deficient), 0.2 (adequate), or 2.0 mg (supplemental) selenium/kg diet was fed to Sprague-Dawley female rats starting ten days after administering a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (150 mg/kg). After being fed the selenium diets for 3 weeks, rats received four i.p. injections of either PCB-77 or PCB-153 (150 micromol/kg) administered every 14 days. The number of placental glutathione S-transferase (PGST)-positive foci per cm(3) and per liver among the PCB-77-treated rats was increased as the Se dietary level increased. Unlike PCB-77, rats receiving PCB-153 did not show the same Se dose-response effect; nevertheless, Se supplementation did not confer protection against foci development. However, the 2.0 ppm Se diet reduced the mean focal volume, indicating a possible protective effect by inhibiting progression of preneoplastic lesions into larger foci. Cell proliferation was not inhibited by Se in the liver of the PCB-treated groups. Se did not prevent the PCB-77-induced decrease of hepatic Se and associated reduction in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. In contrast, thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity was not affected by the PCBs treatment or by Se supplementation. These findings indicate that Se does not inhibit the number of PGST-positive foci induced during promotion by PCBs, but that the size of the lesions may be inhibited. The effects of Se on altered hepatic foci do not correlate with its effects on GPx and TrxR.     

Promotion of lipid oxidation by selenate and selenite and indicators of lipid peroxidation in the rat

The AIN-93 reformulation of the AIN-76A rodent diet includes a change in selenium supplement from sodium selenite to sodium selenate to reduce dietary lipid peroxidation. A change to selenate as the standard form of Se in rat diets would render results from previous work using selenite less relevant for comparison with studies using the AIN-93 formulation. To critically examine the rationale for the AIN-93 recommendation, we prepared Torula yeast basal diets patterned as closely as possible after the AIN-93 formulation and supplemented with 0, 0.15 (adequate), or 2.0 (high) mg selenium/kg diet as sodium selenite or sodium selenate. Livers isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats fed these diets for 15 wk showed no differences in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances or lipid hydroperoxides measured with the ferrous oxidation in xylenol orange method. Lipids isolated from samples of high-selenate and high-selenite diets showed no differences in conjugated dienes. The addition of selenate or selenite to soybean oil did not result in an altered Oil Stability Index. These results demonstrate that selenate is not less likely than selenite to cause oxidation of other dietary components. Benefits of selenate over selenite in the diets of rodents remain to be demonstrated. Results included in this paper were presented at the meeting of Experimental Biology 98, San Francisco, CA, April 18–22, 1998, and published in abstract form (Moak, M. A., Johnson, B. L., & Christensen, M. J. [1998] On the AIN-93G recommendation for selenium. FASEB J. 12, A824).