Use of Stringent Selection Parameters for the Identification of Possible Selenium-Responsive Marker Genes in Mouse Liver and Gastrocnemius

Abstract

Selenium is a trace element that, although toxic in higher concentrations, is essential for human and animal health. In this study, we looked at microarray-based gene expression patterns from liver and gastrocnemius tissues in mice fed either a selenium-deficient diet or diets containing sodium selenite, selenomethionine, or a yeast-derived selenium supplement. A p value cutoff of 0.01 was used to identify a select set of selenium-responsive genes that were consistently differentially expressed across three age groups of mice with both ANOVA and t test analyses. A total of 19 gene transcripts were found to be differentially expressed across the three age groups with at least one selenium-deficient/selenium-supplemented diet comparison. Of those 19 genes, 12 had been previously identified as selenoprotein-encoding genes, and four of the genes, Gpx1, Selh, Sep15, and Sepw1, were differentially expressed in both tissues, all three mouse age groups, and all three diet comparisons. Activities associated with non-selenoproteins encoded by selenium-responsive genes included transport and stress response. The selenophosphate synthetase 2 gene Sephs2 in gastrocnemius tissue and the solute carrier gene Slc48a1 in liver tissue, both up-regulated with selenium-deficient diets compared to all three selenium-supplemented diets, are previously overlooked candidates for dietary selenium marker genes.

Source of Selenium Supplementation Influences Testis Selenium Content and Gene Expression Profiles in Single Comb White Leghorn Roosters

“…Our data provide further detail about the relationship between Se and male fertility and indicate that, besides being involved in the formation of normal sperm, Se is essential for the proper cell structure and maintenance of seminiferous tubule morphology. In addition, our data support previous findings that supplementation with different forms of Se results in common but mostly differential gene expression patterns regardless of tissue type [33,43,44]. Results from this study imply that Se may have an alternative, nonantioxidant role in male reproduction by helping to maintain testicular cell structure and function.…”

Differential Expression of Vitamin E and Selenium-Responsive Genes by Disease Severity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…Plasma selenium concentrations were similar by GOLD stage, and selenium could not be assayed in lung tissue due to limited tissue mass. Prior studies also show that vitamin E and selenium contribute to gene regulation (10, 36-41, 48), hence we explored whether differences in nutrient status by disease stage had functional consequences by investigating whether genes responsive to vitamin E were differentially expressed by disease stage. Six of 42 vitamin E-responsive genes, namely KRT1, PPARG, TNNI2, KRT4, SULT2B1, and SRA1 , were differentially expressed by disease stage/severity, and there was evidence that genetic variation directly alters expression of the KRT1 gene in lung tissue.…”

“…Each nutrient-responsive gene list was curated for biologic relevance to the present study, and genes were retained if they were: known to be expressed in lung tissue, expressed under relevant physiologic concentrations of the nutrient, expression not limited to highly specific physiologic stress conditions, and not primarily related to cancer pathogenesis. (10, 36-48)…”

“…A separate line of research has identified genes that are responsive to manipulation of antioxidant nutrients (10, 36-48), and, an as yet unanswered question is whether antioxidant-responsive genes are differentially expressed in the antioxidant-depleted environment of the COPD lung. Given the central role of oxidant/antioxidant balance in COPD pathogenesis, we tested the hypothesis that the status of nutrients with antioxidant properties is compromised in patients with COPD, and that genes related to antioxidant function are differentially expressed in COPD.…”

Gestational form of Selenium in Free-Choice Mineral Mixes Affects Transcriptome Profiles of the Neonatal Calf Testis, Including those of Steroidogenic and Spermatogenic Pathways

“…In addition, we have demonstrated that the feeding of a 1:1 mix of inorganic and organic forms results in an equal assimilation of Se into blood [24,26] and liver [24] tissues as yielded by feeding only an organic form and that Seadequate cattle consuming equimolar amounts of Se in organic, inorganic, or mixed forms results in distinct liver transcriptome profiles [27]. With regard to the potential that the organic Se supplementation effect was due to the non-methyl Se portion of SeMet, research with mice has shown that equimolar supplementation of methionine versus SeMet results in differential hepatic transcriptome profiles [28,29]. Importantly, in these studies, mice also were fed an equal amount of non-selenium-enriched yeast, to control for possible inherent effects on transcriptional profiles by non-selenium yeast components.…”