title: Investigation on the effect of selenium on T lymphocyte proliferation and its mechanisms.
abstract: The effects of selenium on T lymphocyte proliferation and its mechanisms have been investigated. The results showed that selenium is able to enhance lectin-stimulated T lymphocyte proliferation, to increase the production of interleukin 2 (IL-2) by lymphocytes and interleukin 1 (IL-1) by macrophages in the presence of lectin and to augment the response of T lymphoblasts to IL-2 and that of thymocytes to IL-1. The data presented suggest that selenium may be an important modulator for immune response. Selenium might enhance IL-2 production and response through the augmentation of IL-1 production and response, thereby promoting the enhancement of the proliferation and action of T lymphocytes and other immunocompetent cells. Based on these results, we may consider using selenium as an immunological enhancement agent to enhance or recover immune functions of the organism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Wuhan Medical School for Metallurgical Industry.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012643:Selenium