The effect of dietary selenium intake on numbers of T and B cells in C57BL/6 mice with chronic inflammation

Abstract

Selenium (Se) as a nutrient has many beneficial functions related to its nutritional, biochemical and molecular properties. Se is important for adequate immune response. In this study dams were fed a Torula yeast Se depletion diet for the final week of gestation and through lactation. At 23 days, 47 pups were weaned to the depletion diet or to diets with 0.2, 2 or 4 mg/kg diet Se added as sodium selenate for 14 weeks. Four weeks before necropsy lipopolysaccharide (LPS) time‐release pellets (0 or 0.1μg/g body weight/d) pellets were implanted subcutaneously. At necropsy the bone marrow from femur was flushed with saline, labeled with fluorochrome conjugated primary antibodies (CD3, B220, and CD4) and analyzed by flow cytometry (FACS). LPS stimulation versus placebo increased numbers of T helper cells (1.7×106 vs 0.93×106), T cells (0.57×106 vs 0.31×106) and B cells (3.3×106 vs 2.5×106). In addition CD3+ cell numbers were greater with increasing Se intake (p<0.03). Although the immune system is dependent upon production of oxidative molecules as a protection against microbial pathogens, benefits of Se also include protection from excessive damage by oxidative radicals. Further understanding of the mechanisms by which dietary Se affects these immune cell populations will contribute to knowledge of using Se supplementation to affect T cell mediated immune response. (Supported by Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science & Technology)