title: Supplementation with selenium augments the functions of natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cells.
abstract: This study examined the effects of dietary (2.0 ppm for 8 wk) and in vitro (1 x 10(-7)M) supplementation with selenium (Se, as sodium selenite) on the activity of spleen natural killer (NK) cells and plastic-adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells from C57B1/6J male mice. Dietary supplementation with Se resulted in a significant increase in the lytic activity of activated NK cells, and cells from these highly lytic effector cell populations expressed significantly higher numbers of intermediate affinity interleukin-2 receptors (II-2R)/cell. In the presence of high concentrations of II-2 and 1 x 10(-7)M Se, resting populations of spleen NK cells developed into A-LAK cells that had a significantly enhanced ability to proliferate, as indicated by the significantly higher amounts of nuclear 3H-thymidine incorporation, and a significantly augmented cytolytic activity against both NK-sensitive and NK-resistant target cells. Se appears to enhance the lytic activity of activated NK cells and to augment the proliferation, expansion, and lytic activity of A-LAK cells in the presence of high concentrations of II-2 through its ability to enhance the expression of intermediate affinity II-2R on these cells.
authors.affiliation: New York University Dental Center, Division of Basic Sciences, NY 10010, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kiremidjian-Schumacher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Wishe
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stotzky
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D003470:Culture Media; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D005527:Food, Fortified; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D003470:Culture Media; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012643:Selenium; D018038:Sodium Selenite