title: Protection from H1N1 influenza virus infections in mice by supplementation with selenium: a comparison with selenium-deficient mice.
abstract: The present paper describes protective effects of supplemental selenium in mice infected with influenza virus. The effects of supplemental selenium on serum selenium levels, mortality, lung virus titers, and cytokine titers were investigated in mice inoculated intranasally with suspensions of influenza virus. Whereas the mortality of the virus-infected Se-deficient mice was 75%, along with a marked reduction in body weight, lower levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ and lower serum selenium concentrations, the mortality of mice maintained on feed containing 0.5 mg Se/kg in the form of sodium selenite was 25%.There were no significantly differences, however, in viral titer between the Se-adequate and the selenium-supplemented groups. The data indicate that selenium supplementation may provide a feasible approach to improving the immune response to viral infections, such as lethal influenza infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, The Forth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nan
authors.forename: Li-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D012643:Selenium; D018038:Sodium Selenite