Selenium-Containing Amino Acids Protect Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis via Ameliorating Oxidative Stress and Intestinal Inflammation

• DOI: 10.2147/jir.s288412
• Publication Date: 2021-01-13T20:08:30Z
• Authors: Chengxin Shi; Fengli Yue; Feiyu Shi; Qian Qin; Lizhao Wang; Guanghui Wang; Lijun Mu; Dan Liu; Yaguang Li; Tianyu Yu; Junjun She
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; colitis; selenocysteine; selenocystine; RM1-950; inflammatory bowel diseases; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; inflammation; Pathology; selenium-containing amino acids; oxidative stress; RB1-214; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; Journal of Inflammation Research; Original Research

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Selenium-containing amino acids reportedly have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, but it remains unknown if selenium-containing amino acids can be used to treat IBD. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two selenium-containing amino acids - selenocysteine and selenocystine - on oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD.C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to the following six groups: control, DSS, DSS+selenocysteine, DSS+selenocystine, DSS+sodium selenite, and DSS+N-acetylcysteine (NAC). IBD was induced by 3% DSS. Pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-1β (IL-1β), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] and markers for oxidative and anti-oxidative stress [malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were measured using immunohistochemical analysis.Selenocysteine and selenocystine significantly attenuated IBD-related symptoms, including preventing weight loss, decreasing disease activity index (DAI) scores, and increasing colon length. Selenocysteine and selenocystine significantly ameliorated the DSS-induced oxidative stress, as demonstrated by a reduction in ROS and MDA activity and an increase in SOD and GPx activity. IL-1, MCP-1, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were significantly increased in the IBD mice, while treatment with the selenium-containing amino acids significantly reduced the levels of these pro-inflammatory cytokines. In vivo safety analysis showed minimal side effects of the selenium-containing amino acids.We found that selenocysteine and selenocystine ameliorated DSS-induced IBD via reducing oxidative stress and intestinal inflammation, indicating that selenium-containing amino acids could be a novel therapeutic option for patients with IBD.