ABSTRACT
This study determined the effects of selenium on the growth of Fusarium strains and the effects of products extracted from the fungal cultures on relevant indicators of chondrocytes injury. The results showed that selenium supplementation resulted in differential effects on the mycelial growth of the strains. Levels of the chondrocyte injury indicators, including cell viability, proteoglycan and type II collagen contents and their mRNA expressions, were all reduced to varying degrees when the chondrocytes were incubated with fermentation extracts, the inhibitory effect varied depending on selenium content supplemented to fungal culture media. The results indicated that certain chain relations existed between the content of selenium in the environment, the production of some metabolites by fungi, and the occurrence of chondrocyte damage. The extent of this relationship and the role it plays in Kaschin-Beck disease pathogenesis merit further study.