Ptaquiloside-induced immunotoxic effects are reversed by selenium supplementation (87.21)

Abstract

Abstract Pteridium aquilinum (Pa) is a poisonous plant and its ingestion has been closely associated with human and animal cancers. Our earlier studies have shown that Pa reduces white pulp of spleen and NK cell cytotoxicity in mice. In addition, we observed that selenium (Se) reversed Pa-induced spleen damage. In this study the aim was evaluate if ptaquiloside (Ptq), the main toxic principle found in Pa, is responsible for its immunotoxic effects and if Se would reverse these effects. For in vivo study, mice were separated into 4 groups: control, Ptq, Ptq+Se, and Se. Mice were treated by gavage for 14 days with Ptq (5.3mg/kg BW) and/or Se (1.3mg/kg BW). Mice were killed and it was prepared a non-adherent splenic cells suspensions to perform NK cell activity assay against YAC cell line. For in vitro study, cultures of non-adherent splenic cells were performed for each mouse as follows: untreated, Se 0.1mM, RPMI extract of Pa (RE) 4mg/ml, RE 4mg/ml+Se 0.1mM (co-incubation), and RE 4mg/ml+Se 0.1mM (RE/1h wash and then Se/1h). After treatment, the cells were washed to proceed both NK cell activity assay and MTT assay. We observed that Ptq reduced NK cytotoxicity, which permits to suppose that Ptq is the principle responsible by immunotoxic effects. Moreover, NK cell activity was completely recovered after Se supplementation in vivo and in vitro. These results showed for the first time that Pa-induced immunotoxic effects are caused by Ptq and that these effects are fully recovered by Se.