The effect of selenium deficiency in goats on lymphocyte production of leukocyte migration inhibitory factor

The effect of dietary selenium on caprine leukocyte migration inhibitory factor (LMIF) production was examined in vitro using lymphocytes from goats fed a diet deficient in selenium. Selenium deficiency was determined by decreased plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). The ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes to produce LMIF induced by concanavalin A (Con A) was significantly (P less than 0.05) inhibited when cells from selenium-deficient and selenium-adequate goats were compared. In contrast, no significant (P greater than 0.05) differences were found between lymphocytes from selenium-deficient and selenium-adequate goats for Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and blastogenesis induced by Con A. These data suggest that selenium deficiency may selectively impair LMIF production and hence the ability of lymphocytes to modulate neutrophil migration.