Effects of selenium on peripheral blood mononuclear cell membrane fluidity, interleukin-2 production and interleukin-2 receptor expression in patients with chronic hepatitis.

AIM

To study the effect of selenium on peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) membrane fluidity and immune function in patients with chronic hepatitis.

METHODS

PBMCs were pretreated with selenium (1.156x10(-7) mol/L) for 6 h in vitro or extracted directly from patients after administration of selenium-yeast continuously for 8-12 wk (200 microg/d), and then exposed to Con-A for 48 h. The membrane fluidity, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression in PBMCs and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in medium and lipid peroxide (LPO) in plasma were determined.

RESULTS

The PBMC membrane fluidity, IL-2 production and IL-2R expression in patients with chronic hepatitis were significantly lower than those in healthy blood donators (particle adhesive degree R, 0.17+/-0.01 vs 0.14+/-0.01, P<0.01; IL-2, 40.26+/-9.55 vs 72.96+/-11.36, P<0.01; IL-2R, 31.05+/-5.09 vs 60.58+/-10.56, P<0.01), and the MDA concentration in medium in patients with chronic hepatitis was significantly higher than that in healthy blood donators (1.44+/-0.08 vs 0.93+/-0.08, P<0.01). Both in vitro and in vivo administration of selenium could reverse the above parameters.

CONCLUSION

Supplement of selenium can suppress lipid peroxidation, and improve PBMC membrane fluidity and immune function in patients with chronic hepatitis.