Selenium compounds modulate the calcium release channel/ryanodine receptor of rabbit skeletal muscle by oxidizing functional thiols.

Selenium compounds, such as sodium selenite and Ebselen were shown to increase high affinity ryanodine binding to the skeletal muscle type ryanodine receptor (RyR1) at nanomolar concentrations, and inhibit the receptor at low micromolar concentrations. This biphasic response was observed in both concentration and time-dependent assays. Extensive washing did not reverse either the stimulation or suppression of receptor binding, but both were prevented or reversed by addition of reduced glutathione, GSH. Selenium compounds were also shown to induce Ca(2+) release from the isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. Sodium selenite and Ebselen stimulated the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor by oxidizing 14 of 47 free thiols per monomer on RyR1 (as detected with the alkylating agent 7-diethylamino-3-(4'-maleimidylphenyl)-4-methylcoumarin) (CPM). Oxidation of the remaining thiols by these selenium compounds resulted in inhibition of the ryanodine receptor.

Delineation of the molecular basis for selenium-induced growth arrest in human prostate cancer cells by oligonucleotide array.

Despite the growing interest in selenium intervention of prostate cancer in humans, scanty information is currently available on the molecular mechanism of selenium action. Our past research indicated that methylseleninic acid (MSA) is an excellent reagent for investigating the anticancer effect of selenium in vitro. The present study was designed to examine the cellular and molecular effects of MSA in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. After exposure to physiological concentrations of MSA, these cells exhibited a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of growth. MSA retarded cell cycle progression at multiple transition points without changing the proportion of cells in different phases of the cell cycle. Flow cytometric analysis of annexin V- and propidium iodide-labeled cells showed a marked induction of apoptosis by MSA. Array analysis with the Affymetrix human genome U95A chip was then applied to profile the gene expression changes that might mediate the effects of selenium. Gene profiling was done in a time course experiment (at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h) using synchronized cells. A large number of potential selenium-responsive genes with diverse biological functions were identified. These genes fell into 12 clusters of distinct kinetics pattern of modulation by MSA. The expression changes of 10 genes known to be critically involved in cell cycle regulation were selected for verification by Western analysis to determine the reliability of the array data. An agreement rate of 70% was obtained based on these confirmation experiments. The array data enabled us to focus on the role of potential key genes (e.g., GADD153, CHK2, p21(WAF1), cyclin A, CDK1, and DHFR) that might be targets of MSA in impeding cell cycle progression. The data also provide valuable insights into novel biological effects of selenium, such as inhibition of cell invasion, DNA repair, and stimulation of transforming growth factor beta signaling. The present study demonstrates the utility of a genome-wide analysis to elucidate the mechanism of selenium chemoprevention.

Identification of molecular targets associated with selenium-induced growth inhibition in human breast cells using cDNA microarrays.

Past research indicated that methylseleninic acid (MSA) is an excellent tool for investigating the cancer chemopreventive action of selenium in vitro. The present study was designed to examine the cellular and molecular effects of MSA in the MCF10AT1 and MCF10AT3B premalignant human breast cells. After exposure to MSA, both cell lines exhibited a dose- and time-dependent growth-inhibitory response as determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell proliferation assay. Further characterization of cellular and molecular changes was carried out only with the MCF10AT1 cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that MSA blocked cell cycle progression at the G(0)-G(1) phase. Induction of apoptosis was also observed with the use of either the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) or the annexin V binding method. cDNA microarray analyses with cell cycle- and apoptosis-targeted arrays were then applied to profile the gene expression changes mediating these two cellular events. The analyses were conducted at 6 and 12 h of MSA treatment using synchronized cells. The expression signals of 30 genes were found to be significantly altered by MSA. These genes fall into three categories: cell cycle checkpoint controllers (e.g., cyclins, cdcs, cdks, E2F family proteins, and serine/threonine kinases), apoptosis regulatory genes (e.g., Apo-3, c-jun, and cdk5/cyclin D1), and signaling molecules [e.g., mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3k) cascade genes]. The expression changes of 15 genes were selected for verification by Western or semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR analyses. An agreement rate of 60% (9 of 15) was obtained from these confirmation experiments. On the basis of the above findings, tentative signaling pathways mediating the outcome of selenium-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are proposed. The present study thus demonstrated the feasibility of applying cDNA microarray technology in delineating the mechanisms of the action of selenium and in pinpointing molecular targets as potential biomarkers for evaluating the efficacy of selenium intervention.

Mechanisms of cell cycle arrest by methylseleninic acid.

Methylseleninic acid (MSA) is a monomethylated form of selenium effective in inhibiting cell growth in vitro and experimental mammary carcinogenesis in vivo. MSA offers particular advantage in cell culture experiments because it is stable in solution and provides a monomethylated form of selenium that can be reduced by cellular reducing systems and released nonenzymatically within a cell. In the present study, MSA was used to elucidate the mechanisms of cell growth inhibition by selenium. These studies were performed using a mouse mammary hyperplastic epithelial cell line, TM6. MSA induced a rapid arrest of synchronized cells in the G(1) phase of the cell cycle. This effect was accompanied by a reduction in total cellular levels of cyclin D1. Whereas MSA had no effect on total levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4, the amount of CDK4 immunoprecipitated with cyclin D1 in MSA-treated cells was decreased as was the kinase activity of the immunoprecipitated complex. MSA did not significantly affect cyclin E or associated regulatory molecules. Treatment with MSA suppressed the hyperphosphorylated form of retinoblastoma (Rb) with a commensurate increase in the hypophosphorylated form. Levels of E2F-1 bound to Rb also were elevated. Levels of insulin-like growth factor-I receptor and phosphorylated Akt were reduced by MSA. It is concluded that MSA induces a G(1) arrest in the cell cycle. This effect may be induced by MSA via its modulation of insulin-like growth factor-I-mediated signal transduction leading to inhibition of Akt activation and limitation of cyclin D1-CDK4-mediated phosphorylation of Rb.

New concepts in selenium chemoprevention.

This article highlights some recent advances in selenium cancer chemoprevention research. It has been well documented that the chemical transformation of selenium to a monomethylated metabolite is an important step in achieving cancer prevention. Studies with the rat mammary carcinogenesis model suggested that methylselenocysteine (MSC), a good precursor for generating methylselenol endogenously, is able to block clonal expansion of premalignant lesions in the mammary gland. This finding supports the notion that selenium intervenes at an early stage of carcinogenesis. In addition to decreasing cell proliferation of the transformed colonies in vivo, MSC also enhances apoptosis. These same cellular responses are replicated with human premalignant breast cells grown in culture. cDNA microarray analysis indicated that selenium affects a multitude of molecular targets. Based on this information, a number of signaling pathways are proposed that could potentially provide insight into how selenium might block cell cycle progression and induce cell death.