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Apoptosis induced by selenium in human glioma cell lines
1Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Japan.
Abstract:
Several studies have shown that selenium can inhibit tumorigenesis in tissues. However, little is known about the mechanism and the effect of selenium on DNA, especially in brain tumor cells. In this study we examined the biological effect of selenium on human glioma cell lines (A172 and T98G). Selenium exhibited an antiproliferative effect on these cell lines (and induced the typical ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation commonly found in apoptosis), which were prevented by catalase. Few effects of selenium on NT14 fibroblasts were found. These findings demonstrate that selenium may induce, by apoptosis, cell death of human glioma cell lines, which are resulting from free radical oxygen forming.
Insights
Selenium inhibits growth in human glioma cells by inducing apoptosis, a programmed cell death process. This cell death is linked to free radical oxygen formation and can be blocked by catalase.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Selenium is known to inhibit tumorigenesis.
- The precise mechanism of selenium's effect on DNA, particularly in brain tumor cells, remains largely unelucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biological effects of selenium on human glioma cell lines.
- To explore selenium's impact on DNA fragmentation and cell death pathways in brain tumors.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of human glioma cell lines (A172 and T98G) to selenium.
- Analysis of DNA fragmentation patterns.
- Assessment of apoptosis induction.
- Evaluation of catalase's inhibitory effect.
Main Results:
- Selenium demonstrated an antiproliferative effect on A172 and T98G glioma cells.
- Selenium induced DNA fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis.
- Catalase prevented the observed DNA fragmentation and antiproliferative effects.
- Minimal effects were observed on NT14 fibroblasts.
Conclusions:
- Selenium induces cell death in human glioma cells through apoptosis.
- The apoptotic process initiated by selenium in glioma cells is mediated by free radical oxygen species.
- These findings highlight selenium's potential as a therapeutic agent against brain tumors.