title: Seleno-enzymes and seleno-compounds: the two faces of selenium.
abstract: Selenium protects cells and inhibits many inflammatory cell mechanisms through antioxidant seleno-enzymes. Immunity improvement is illustrated by the study of Berger and colleagues, with reduction of nosocomial pneumonia in burnt patients under multi-trace-element supplementation. As seleno-compounds (especially sodium selenite) are pro-oxidant, however, administration above 800 microg/day may be dangerous in septic shock. Paradoxically, direct reversible pro-oxidative effects of seleno-compounds may also be beneficial for reduction of inflammation (genomic action, apoptosis), and may even be bactericidal or virucidal. These facts need to be further examined, as well as the possible dramatic drop of plasma selenoprotein P in septic shock and its role in endothelium protection.
authors.affiliation: Ch Meaux, Réanimation Polyvalente, 6-8 rue Saint Fiacre, 77104 Meaux, France. xforceville@invivo.edu
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Forceville
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012643:Selenium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000150:complications*; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018036:Selenium Compounds; D012643:Selenium; D018038:Sodium Selenite