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Chemical Form of Selenium Affects Its Uptake, Transport, and Glutathione Peroxidase Activity in the Human Intestinal Caco-2 Cell Model

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Abstract

Determining the effect of selenium (Se) chemical form on uptake, transport, and glutathione peroxidase activity in human intestinal cells is critical to assess Se bioavailability at nutritional doses. In this study, we found that two sources of L-selenomethionine (SeMet) and Se-enriched yeast each increased intracellular Se content more effectively than selenite or methylselenocysteine (SeMSC) in the human intestinal Caco-2 cell model. Interestingly, SeMSC, SeMet, and digested Se-enriched yeast were transported at comparable efficacy from the apical to basolateral sides, each being about 3-fold that of selenite. In addition, these forms of Se, whether before or after traversing from apical side to basolateral side, did not change the potential to support glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. Although selenoprotein P has been postulated to be a key Se transport protein, its intracellular expression did not differ when selenite, SeMSC, SeMet, or digested Se-enriched yeast was added to serum-contained media. Taken together, our data show, for the first time, that the chemical form of Se at nutritional doses can affect the absorptive (apical to basolateral side) efficacy and retention of Se by intestinal cells; but that, these effects are not directly correlated to the potential to support GPx activity.

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Abbreviations

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

FBS:

Fetal bovine serum

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

Se:

Selenium

SeMSC:

Se-(methyl)selenocysteine

SeMet:

L-selenomethionine

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Drs. Lazarova and Uthus for critical review of the manuscript. The technical support given by James Botnen, Craig Lacher, Bill Martin, Mary BriskeAnderson, Brenda Skinner, and LuAnn Johnson is greatly appreciated. This work was supported by the US Department of Agriculture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, P.O. Box 9034, Grand Forks, ND, 58203, USA

    Huawei Zeng, Matthew I. Jackson & Gerald F. Combs Jr

  2. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Wen-Hsing Cheng

Authors
  1. Huawei Zeng
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  2. Matthew I. Jackson
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  3. Wen-Hsing Cheng
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  4. Gerald F. Combs Jr
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Correspondence to Huawei Zeng.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Northern Plains Area, is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all agency services are available without discrimination. The mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.

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Zeng, H., Jackson, M.I., Cheng, WH. et al. Chemical Form of Selenium Affects Its Uptake, Transport, and Glutathione Peroxidase Activity in the Human Intestinal Caco-2 Cell Model. Biol Trace Elem Res 143, 1209–1218 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8935-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8935-3

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