Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Selenium on Orbital Fibroblasts of Patients With Graves Ophthalmopathy

Abstract

Purpose: In the present study, the authors investigated the effects of selenium on inflammation, hyaluronan production, and oxidative stress in primary cultured orbital fibroblasts of patients with Graves ophthalmopathy (GO). Methods: Orbital adipose/connective tissue specimens were obtained during the course of orbital surgery for patients with GO (n = 7) and other noninflammatory problems (n = 5). After incubation with various concentrations of sodium selenite for 48 hours, supernatants from primary cultures were collected. Hyaluronan and cytokine levels were measured using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. To determine the effect of selenium on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production stimulated by H2O2 (100 μM) for 30 minutes, the cells were pretreated with various concentrations of sodium selenite for 60 minutes. Results: Interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were significantly higher in orbital fibroblasts of patients with GO than in orbital fibroblasts of control patients. Hyaluronan production was suppressed by selenium in cultured orbital fibroblasts of patients with GO. Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were suppressed by selenium in cultured orbital fibroblasts of patients with GO. IL-1β and IL-6 were not suppressed by selenium in cultured orbital fibroblasts of patients with GO. Selenium pretreatment reduced intracellular ROS generation stimulated by H2O2 in cultured orbital fibroblasts of patients with GO. Conclusions: In conclusion, hyaluronan production, inflammatory cytokines, and intracellular ROS generation were suppressed by selenium in cultured orbital fibroblasts of patients with GO. Several inflammatory cytokines may be suppressed by selenium in cultured orbital fibroblasts of patients with GO. This study provide the basis for use of selenium in the treatment of GO.

Inherited Disorders of Thyroid Hormone Metabolism Defect Caused by the Dysregulation of Selenoprotein Expression

“…One randomized clinical trial of selenium supplementation in patients with mild Graves’ orbitopathy was performed, and the quality of life and eye disease parameters improved significantly after 6 months of treatment ( 120 , 121 ). Recently, it was reported that selenium suppressed hyaluronan production, inflammatory cytokines, and intracellular ROS generation in cultured orbital fibroblasts of patients with Graves’ orbitopathy (GO), suggesting a basis for the use of selenium in the treatment of GO ( 122 ).…”

Thyroid eye disease: From pathogenesis to targeted therapies

“…[ 104 ] In several in vitro studies, selenium reduces H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress, proliferation, hyaluronan synthesis,[ 105 ] and proinflammatory cytokine production in OFs. [ 106 107 ] Controversy exists regarding the association of selenium levels with the severity or activity of TED. [ 108 109 ] The value of supplemental selenium on antithyroid drug medication in GD is still debatable in some randomized, controlled trials, especially in a selenium-sufficient cohort of GD.…”

A systematic review on the role of antioxidants in thyroid eye disease

“…Finally, 20 papers met the inclusion criteria and were considered in this review [ Figure 1 ]. There were four human studies 20 21 22 23 and sixteen in vitro studies 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 from 1993 to 2021 [ Table 2 ]. Fifteen studies were from Taiwan (2), Canada (1), Greece (1), Brazil (2), Poland (1), the USA (1), Japan (1), Italy (5), South Korea (3), Germany (1), China (1), and one was supervised by the international multicentral European Group on Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) association.…”