WITHDRAWN: Selenite induces apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells through interaction with thioredoxin reductase

Fang Huang, Jing Huang, Qing Lv

  • 1The National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China caiminxu@yahoo.com.cn.

BMB Reports
|November 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Selenium compounds, like selenite, show promise in colorectal cancer treatment by targeting the thioredoxin system. Selenite combined with thioredoxin reductase inhibition enhances cancer cell apoptosis, offering a potential therapeutic strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Epidemiologic and preclinical studies validate selenium compounds' chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects in colorectal cancer.
  • The precise mechanisms underlying selenium's action in colorectal cancer remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between selenium metabolites and selenoproteins in colorectal cancer suppression.
  • To elucidate the role of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) as a target for selenite in colorectal cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of SW480 colorectal cancer cells with supranutritional doses of selenite.
  • Analysis of thioredoxin system inhibition and apoptosis induction.
  • Investigation of direct modifications on TrxR protein.
  • Assessment of TrxR ablation effects on selenite-induced apoptosis and the mitochondrial pathway.

Main Results:

  • Selenite inhibited the thioredoxin system and induced apoptosis in SW480 cells.
  • Selenite directly modified thiol groups on the TrxR protein.
  • TrxR ablation sensitized cells to selenite-induced apoptosis, involving Bax activation and the mitochondrial pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is identified as a key target for selenite in colorectal cancer suppression.
  • Combining selenite with TrxR inhibition presents a promising therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer treatment.

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