title: Selenium enhances glutathione peroxidase activity and prostacyclin release in cultured human endothelial cells. Concurrent effects on mRNA levels.
abstract: Selenium (Se) is an essential component of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), an enzyme that protects cells by reducing intracellular peroxides. Impaired Se status and GSH-Px activity seem associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic vascular diseases. This study reports the effects of Se supplementation on GSH-Px activity, on prostacyclin (PGI2) production, on 12-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) levels, and on GSH-Px mRNA expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Se-enriched HUVEC showed significant increase of both GSH-Px activity and thrombin-stimulated production of PGI2 in the presence of stable concentrations of 12-HETE. On the other hand, an inverse correlation between Se concentrations in culture media and GSH-Px mRNA levels in Northern blot analysis was shown; this suggests that a major degree of regulation for GSH-Px expression by Se is most likely exerted at the posttranscriptional level. These observations may help to explain the increased incidence of atherosclerosis described in Se-deficient individuals.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Ematologia, Valeggio s.M. Università di Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ricetti
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Guidi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellisola
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marrocchella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rigo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perona
mesh_terms: D019377:12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D019377:12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; D011464:Epoprostenol; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013917:Thrombin; D012643:Selenium