Red elemental selenium (Se⁰) improves the immunoactivities of EPC cells, crucian carp and zebrafish against spring viraemia of carp virus

Abstract

Selenium, as an essential trace element, interferes through selenoproteins in many physiological processes of plants and mammals. Its antiviral activity has recently attracted much attention because selenium improves the antiviral capacity of animal cells against a few viruses relevant to human diseases. In this study, the red elemental selenium was purified from the fermentative culture of Herbaspirillum camelliae WT00C and then used to culture epithelioma papulosum cyprinid (EPC) cells or feed crucian carp and zebrafish. Finally, its antiviral effects were investigated at the cell level and living fishes after spring viraemia of carp virus infection. At the cell level, 5, 10 and 20 μg ml–1 red elemental selenium significantly induced the expression of interferon (IFN) and ISG15 genes in EPC cells. The viral TCID50 (50% tissue culture infective dose) values in the EPC cells incubated with 5, 10 and 20 μg ml–1 red elemental selenium were significantly less than those of the control. More expression of IFN and ISG15 genes and less TCID50 values indicate that red elemental selenium indeed improves the antiviral capability of EPC cells. In the crucian carp fed with the food containing 5 and 10 μg g–1 red elemental selenium, IFN expressions showed 13‐ and 39‐fold increases at the 16th day of post‐injection, and its expression was dependent on selenium concentrations. Meanwhile, no fish death occurred in all the experimental groups. In the zebrafish fed with the red worm containing 5 μg g–1 red elemental selenium, IFN and Mx expressions and survival rate were significantly higher than those of the control. The results of this study show that red elemental selenium indeed improves the antiviral activity of fish. The antiviral effects of selenium mainly come from its immune regulation through its incorporation into selenoproteins. The optimum level of selenium contributes to improving fish immunity, whereas excess selenium causes excessive immune and inflammatory responses.

Glycine Nano-Selenium Enhances Immunoglobulin and Cytokine Production in Mice Immunized with H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus Vaccine

“…Furthermore, the higher expression of IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ in the spleen which acts as a secondary lymphoid organ where the maturation and activation of B and T lymphocytes take place after glycine nano-selenium solution administration indicated improved immune response. This results were consistent the studies by Luan et al [ 59 ], Sun et al [ 60 ], and Tian et al [ 61 ] which reported that various types of selenium could improve the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and INF-γ cytokines.…”

Review of Medicinal Plants and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients against Aquatic Pathogenic Viruses

“…Tian et al [77] purified the chemical element selenium from the fermentation of Herbaspirillum camelliae WT00C. Selenium is an essential trace element with antiviral properties.…”

Molecular Insights into Beneficial Effects of Tea-Plant Growth and Selenium Enrichment by Herbaspirillum camelliae

“…The conversion of selenate into non-toxic elemental selenium or incorporation of selenium into bacterial proteins to form selenoproteins in H. camelliae WT00C facilitated selenium accumulation in tea when the bacterium colonized in tea plant [7]. Red elemental selenium (Se 0 ) purified from H. camelliae WT00C cells improved immunoactivities of crucian carp and zebrafish against spring viraemia of carp virus [45].…”