Can selenium-enriched spirulina supplementation ameliorate sepsis outcomes in selenium-deficient animals?

Thomas Castel,Michaël Theron,Anthony Guernec,Bleuenn Gueguen,Aurélie Joublin-Delavat,Karine Pichavant-Rafini,Karelle Leon

doi:10.14814/phy2.14933

Abstract

In intensive care units, sepsis is the first cause of death. In this pathology, inflammation and oxidative status play a crucial role in patient outcomes. Interestingly, 92% of septic patients exhibit low selenium plasma concentrations (a component of antioxidant enzymes). Moreover, Spirulina platensis, a blue‐green algae, demonstrated anti‐inflammatory effects. In this context, the main purpose of our study was to analyze the effect of a selenium‐enriched spirulina after a selenium deficiency on sepsis outcome in rats. Sixty‐four rats were fed 12 weeks with a selenium‐deficient food. After 8 weeks, rats were supplemented (via drinking water) for 4 weeks with sodium selenite (Se), spirulina (Spi), or selenium‐enriched spirulina (SeSp). Sepsis was then induced by cecal ligature and puncture, and survival duration was observed. The plasma selenium concentration was measured by ICPMS. Expression of GPx1 and GPx3 mRNA was measured by RT‐PCR. Blood parameters (lactates and HCO3 − concentrations, pH, PO2, and PCO2) were analyzed at 0, 1, and 2 h as well as inflammatory cytokines (IL‐6, TNF‐α, IL‐10). Sodium selenite and SeSP supplementations restored plasma selenium concentration prior to sepsis. The survival duration of SeSP septic rats was significantly lower than that of selenium‐supplemented ones. Gpx1 mRNA was increased after a selenium‐enriched spirulina supplementation while Gpx3 mRNA levels remained unchanged. Furthermore, sodium selenite prevented sepsis‐induced acidosis. Our results show that on a basis of a Se deficiency, selenium‐enriched spirulina supplementations significantly worsen sepsis outcome when compared to Se supplementation. Furthermore, Se supplementation but not selenium‐enriched spirulina supplementation decreased inflammation and restored acid–base equilibrium after a sepsis induction.

Highlights

Sepsis is the first cause of mortality in intensive care units (Rudd et al, 2020), but despite numerous clinical trials and experimental studies, its pathogenesis is still unclear (Singer et al, 2016)
It has been shown that, in intensive care units 92% of septic patients are selenium deficient (Sakr et al, 2007) and this selenium deficiency could play a role in sepsis development (Cirino Ruocco et al, 2018; Forceville et al, 1998; Mertens et al, 2015; Weber et al, 2008)
If spirulina beneficial effects on weight gain had previously been described (Khalil et al, 2018), no difference appears in our study. spirulina supplementation (Spi and Se-enriched spirulina (SeSP) groups), increases water intake during the first week of supplementation

Summary

Introduction

Sepsis is the first cause of mortality in intensive care units (Rudd et al, 2020), but despite numerous clinical trials and experimental studies, its pathogenesis is still unclear (Singer et al, 2016). Septic patients display macrocirculatory failure resulting in tissue hypoxia (Hallisey & Greenwood, 2019), decrease in cellular oxygen consumption and lactate production contributing to develop an oxidative stress and inflammation (Gattinoni et al, 2019; Pan et al, 2019). It has been shown that, in intensive care units 92% of septic patients are selenium deficient (Sakr et al, 2007) and this selenium deficiency could play a role in sepsis development (Cirino Ruocco et al, 2018; Forceville et al, 1998; Mertens et al, 2015; Weber et al, 2008). The beneficial effect of selenium supplementation in septic patients is still subject to debate and further investigations are needed to understand its involvement

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