Effect of selenium in recovery of immunity damaged by H2O2 and 60Co radiation

Con A stimulated lymphocytes proliferation was measured as [3H]thymidine incorporation and IgG was quantified by single radial immunodiffusion to study recovering or protecting effect of selenium (Se) on immunity attacked by exogenous active oxygen species, H2O2 and 60Co-radiation, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was also determined to observe the relation between antioxidation ability and protecting ability of Se. It was found that H2O2 injured lymphocytes immunocompetence deeply and 60Co-radiation decreased immune response capacity greatly, but that administration of Se counteracts this damage. The antioxidative ability of Se was correlated with its protecting ability.