Abstract
Selenoneine is a novel organic selenium compound markedly found in the blood, muscles, and other tissues of fish. This study aimed to determine whether selenoneine attenuates hepatocellular injury and hepatic steatosis in a mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Mice lacking farnesoid X receptor (FXR) were used as a model for fatty liver disease, because they exhibited hepatomegaly, hepatic steatosis, and hepatic inflammation. Fxr-null mice were fed a 0.3 mg Se/kg selenoneine-containing diet for four months. Significant decreases in the levels of hepatomegaly, hepatic damage-associated diagnostic markers, hepatic triglycerides, and total bile acids were found in Fxr-null mice fed with a selenoneine-rich diet. Hepatic and blood clot total selenium concentrations were 1.7 and 1.9 times higher in the selenoneine group than in the control group. A marked accumulation of selenoneine was found in the liver and blood clot of the selenoneine group. The expression levels of oxidative stress-related genes (heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1), glutathione S-transferase alpha 1 (Gsta1), and Gsta2), fatty acid synthetic genes (stearoyl CoA desaturase 1(Scd1) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (Acc1)), and selenoprotein (glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1) and selenoprotein P (Selenop)) were significantly decreased in the selenoneine group. These results suggest that selenoneine attenuates hepatic steatosis and hepatocellular injury in an NAFLD mouse model.
Highlights
Selenium is an essential trace element with important metabolic functions in human health, including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory functions [1,2]
(Selenop)) were significantly decreased in the selenoneine group. These results suggest that selenoneine attenuates hepatic steatosis and hepatocellular injury in an non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) mouse model
Fxr-null mice were fed with a standard rodent chow (MF) or a 0.3-mg Se/kg selenoneine-containing in the selenoneine group were slightly higher than those in the control group during the feeding standard rodent chow for four months
Summary
Selenium is an essential trace element with important metabolic functions in human health, including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory functions [1,2]. Most studies on the health effects of selenium as nutrients were carried out using these organic and inorganic selenocompounds. Selenoneine contains a selenium atom on the imidazole ring (Figure 1) and is a selenium analog of ergothioneine, which is a putative antioxidant compound acquired by animals through dietary sources [8,9]. It is widely distributed in various animal tissues and exhibits at high levels in fish tissues, such as tuna, mackerel, and marlin [10]. Selenoneine was identified as the major organic organoselenium compound in the Nutrients 2020, 12, 1898; doi:10.3390/nu12061898 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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