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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Publication Detail

Title: Treatment of Caenorhabditis elegans with Small Selenium Species Enhances Antioxidant Defense Systems.

Authors: Rohn, Isabelle; Raschke, Stefanie; Aschner, Michael; Tuck, Simon; Kuehnelt, Doris; Kipp, Anna; Schwerdtle, Tanja; Bornhorst, Julia

Published In Mol Nutr Food Res, (2019 May)

Abstract: Small selenium (Se) species play a key role in Se metabolism and act as dietary sources of the essential trace element. However, they are redox-active and trigger pro- and antioxidant responses. As health outcomes are strongly species-dependent, species-specific characteristics of Se compounds are tested in vivo.In the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), immediate and sustained effects of selenite, selenomethionine (SeMet), and Se-methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys) are studied regarding their bioavailability, incorporation into proteins, as well as modulation of the cellular redox status. While all tested Se compounds are bioavailable, only SeMet persistently accumulates and is non-specifically incorporated into proteins. However, the protection toward chemically-induced formation of reactive species is independent of the applied Se compound. Increased thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD) activity and changes in mRNA expression levels of antioxidant proteins indicate the activation of cellular defense mechanisms. However, in txnrd-1 deletion mutants, no protective effects of the Se species are observed anymore, which is also reflected by differential gene expression data.Se species protect against chemically-induced reactive species formation. The identified immediate and sustained systemic effects of Se species give rise to speculations on possible benefits facing subsequent periods of inadequate Se intake.

PubMed ID: 30815971 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Animals; Antioxidants/metabolism*; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans/drug effects*; Caenorhabditis elegans/physiology*; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects; Mutation; Selenious Acid/pharmacology; Selenium Compounds/pharmacology*; Selenium/pharmacokinetics*; Selenocysteine/analogs & derivatives; Selenocysteine/pharmacology; Selenomethionine/pharmacology; Thioredoxin Reductase 1/genetics; Thioredoxin Reductase 1/metabolism; tert-Butylhydroperoxide/toxicity

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Last Reviewed: October 07, 2024