Regulation of inflammation by selenium and selenoproteins: impact on eicosanoid biosynthesis

Abstract

Uncontrolled inflammation is a contributing factor to many leading causes of human morbidity and mortality including atherosclerosis, cancer and diabetes. Se is an essential nutrient in the mammalian diet that has some anti-inflammatory properties and, at sufficient amounts in the diet, has been shown to be protective in various inflammatory-based disease models. More recently, Se has been shown to alter the expression of eicosanoids that orchestrate the initiation, magnitude and resolution of inflammation. Many of the health benefits of Se are thought to be due to antioxidant and redox-regulating properties of certain selenoproteins. The present review will discuss the existing evidence that supports the concept that optimal Se intake can mitigate dysfunctional inflammatory responses, in part, through the regulation of eicosanoid metabolism. The ability of selenoproteins to alter the biosynthesis of eicosanoids by reducing oxidative stress and/or by modifying redox-regulated signalling pathways also will be discussed. Based on the current literature, however, it is clear that more research is necessary to uncover the specific beneficial mechanisms behind the anti-inflammatory properties of selenoproteins and other Se metabolites, especially as related to eicosanoid biosynthesis. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in Se-mediated regulation of host inflammatory responses may lead to the development of dietary intervention strategies that take optimal advantage of its biological potency.

Dietary selenate attenuates adiposity and improves insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

“…4C). In line with the reported anti-inflammatory role of selenium (Mattmiller, Carlson, & Sordillo, 2013;Mocchegiani et al, 2014), we found that selenate supplementation resulted in the suppression of HF diet-induced inflammation in WAT (Fig. 4B).…”

Pathophysiology of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

“…SeP acts as an intracellular antioxidant in phagocytes, modulating inflammatory response via switching macrophage differentiation from M1 to M2 and, of consequence, limiting pathogenicity and oxidative damage [176,177]. On the other hand, SeP serum levels were shown to be lowered by acute-phase inflammatory response [178,179].…”

Selenium in Cardiac Surgery

“…Among human selenoproteins, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD), and iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO) represent the best‐characterized selenoenzymes of the antioxidant defense and endocrine systems . Certain selenoproteins have been proven to be essential; that is, GPX4, TXNRD1, TXNRD2, and others are of high pathophysiological relevance because of their anti‐inflammatory and antioxidative properties, which render Se as a central biological micronutrient during the acute phase of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and inflammation in cardiovascular patients . Selenoproteins are not only the responsible players to translate an increased Se supply into protective biological action, but circulating selenoproteins can also be used as markers to determine the Se status in the patients before or during supplementation .…”