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The dietary intake of selenium (Se) has been shown to influence the development and expression of various biologic processes. This study examined the immunologic competence of lymphocytes from C57BL/6J mice maintained for 8 weeks on Se-deficient (0.02 ppm Se), normal (0.20 ppm Se, as sodium selenite), or Se-supplemented (2.00 ppm Se) Torula yeast-based diets. The ability of the cells to recognize alloantigens, to proliferate in response to stimuli, and to produce interleukin 2 (IL-2) was determined. Se deficiency significantly inhibited the ability of the lymphocytes to proliferate in response to allogeneic stimulation in the mixed lymphocyte reaction or to mitogen stimulation by phytohemagglutinin, whereas Se supplementation significantly enhanced both responses. In contrast, the amounts of IL-2 and interleukin 1 (IL-1) produced by lymphocytes and macrophages, respectively, removed from Se-deficient or Se-supplemented animals did not differ significantly from the amounts of IL-2 and IL-1 produced by cells removed from animals maintained on the control diet. These results suggest that the mechanism(s) responsible for the observed effects of Se on lymphocyte proliferation are independent of the levels of IL-2 or IL-1.

Selenium (Se) is an essential nutritional factor with a chemopreventive potential. This study examined the ability of C57BL/6J mice, maintained for 8 weeks on Se-deficient (0.02 ppm Se), normal (0.20 ppm Se), or Se-supplemented (2.00 ppm Se) Torula yeast-based diets, to generate cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) and to destroy tumor cells. CTL were generated in vivo by intraperitoneal immunization with P815 cells and in vitro by allogeneic stimulation of cells from animals maintained on a normal diet in media supplemented with 1 x 10(-9) to 1 x 10(-6) M Se (as selenite). Lymphocytes from animals maintained on the Se-supplemented diet had a greater ability to destroy tumor cells than lymphocytes from animals maintained on the normal diet, whereas Se deficiency reduced the cytotoxicity. The effects on cytotoxicity were accompanied by parallel changes in the levels of lymphotoxin produced. The greatest enhancement of tumor cytodestruction occurred with supplementation of 1 x 10(-7) M Se, whereas with 1 x 10(-6) M there was inhibition of the cytotoxic responses. The stimulatory effect of Se occurred during the phase of CTL generation rather than during the lytic phase of cytotoxicity. These results indicated that Se supplementation enhances CTL generation and the ability of a host to destroy malignant cells, whereas Se deficiency has the opposite effect.

This study examined the effects of dietary (2.0 ppm for 8 wk) and in vitro (1 x 10(-7)M) supplementation with selenium (Se, as sodium selenite) on the activity of spleen natural killer (NK) cells and plastic-adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells from C57B1/6J male mice. Dietary supplementation with Se resulted in a significant increase in the lytic activity of activated NK cells, and cells from these highly lytic effector cell populations expressed significantly higher numbers of intermediate affinity interleukin-2 receptors (II-2R)/cell. In the presence of high concentrations of II-2 and 1 x 10(-7)M Se, resting populations of spleen NK cells developed into A-LAK cells that had a significantly enhanced ability to proliferate, as indicated by the significantly higher amounts of nuclear 3H-thymidine incorporation, and a significantly augmented cytolytic activity against both NK-sensitive and NK-resistant target cells. Se appears to enhance the lytic activity of activated NK cells and to augment the proliferation, expansion, and lytic activity of A-LAK cells in the presence of high concentrations of II-2 through its ability to enhance the expression of intermediate affinity II-2R on these cells.

This study examined the effect of dietary (2.00 ppm for 8 weeks) supplementation with selenium (as sodium selenite) on the ability of lymphocytes from aged (24-month-old), male, C57BL/6JNIA mice to respond to: (i) stimulation with mitogen (phytohemagglutinin) or alloantigen; (ii) develop into cytotoxic effector cells; and (iii) destroy tumor cells. Supplementation with selenium resulted in a significant increase in the ability of spleen lymphocytes from aged animals to undergo blastogenesis, as indicated by significantly higher amounts of nuclear incorporation of 3H-thymidine after stimulation with mitogen. The dietary regimen restored the age-related deficiency of the cells to respond to stimulation by nuclear DNA synthesis and cell proliferation, at least, to the level of cells from unsupplemented young adult animals. Furthermore, populations of in vivo, alloantigen-activated lymphocytes from Se-supplemented aged animals contained significantly higher numbers of cytotoxic lymphocytes than those from Se-normal aged animals, which resulted in an enhanced capacity to destroy tumor cells. The significant increase in the number of cytotoxic effector cells within these activated T-lymphocyte populations was probably the result of an enhanced clonal proliferation of cytotoxic precursors cells, followed by the differentiation of greater numbers of cytotoxic effector cells. This effect occurred in the absence of changes in the ability of the cells to produce IL-2, which confirmed our earlier observation that dietary supplementation with selenium does not affect the production of IL-2. The data suggested that selenium restores the age-related defect in cell proliferation through an increase in the number of high-affinity IL-2 receptors.

This study examined the effect of dietary (200 micrograms/d for 8 wk) supplementation with selenium (as sodium selenite) on the ability of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to respond to stimulation with alloantigen, develop into cytotoxic lymphocytes, and to destroy tumor cells, and on the activity of natural killer cells. The participants in the study were randomized for age, sex, weight, height, and nutritional habits and given selenite or placebo tablets; all participants had a selenium replete status as indicated by their plasma Se levels prior to supplementation. The data indicated that the supplementation regimen resulted in 118% increase in cytotoxic lymphocyte-mediated tumor cytotoxicity and 82.3% increase in natural killer cell activity as compared to baseline values. This apparently was related to the ability of the nutrient to enhance the expression of receptors for the growth regulatory lymphokine interleukin-2, and consequently, the rate of cell proliferation and differentiation into cytotoxic cells. The supplementation regimen did not produce significant changes in the plasma Se levels of the participants. The results indicated that the immunoenhancing effects of selenium in humans require supplementation above the replete levels produced by normal dietary intake.

Selenium (Se) is an essential nutritional factor that was shown previously by us to alter the kinetics of expression of high affinity (p55/p75) interleukin 2 receptors (IL-2R). This study shows that dietary (2 ppm for 8 weeks) or in vitro (1 x 10(-7) M) supplementation with Se (as sodium selenite) results in a significant upregulation of the expression of both the p55 and p70/75 IL-2 binding sites on the surface of concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes from C57BL/6J mice. This resulted in the formation of significantly higher numbers of high affinity IL-2R/cell with preservation of the normal ratio of high affinity to total IL-2 binding sites/cell. The high affinity IL-2R on cells from Se-supplemented animals functioned normally in terms of ligand binding and kinetics of IL-2 internalization, but their greater numbers/cell resulted in the internalization of significantly larger amounts of IL-2/cell. As Se supplementation results in an earlier expression of greater numbers of high affinity IL-2R, the presence of Se in the cell environment can result in an accelerated clonal expansion of activated lymphocytes.

Selenium (Se) is an essential nutritional factor that has been shown to affect the development and expression of cell-mediated immune responses. This study shows that dietary (2 ppm for 8 weeks) or in vitro (1 x 10(-7) M) supplementation with Se results in a significant increase in the number of high affinity interleukin (IL) 2-binding sites (Kd of 10(-11) M) on the surface of concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes from C57BL/6J mice, whereas Se deficiency (0.02 ppm for 8 weeks) has the opposite effect. Se supplementation or deficiency apparently alters the kinetics of IL-2 receptor expression. Supplementation with Se in vivo or in vitro resulted in an earlier expression of high affinity IL-2 receptors, whereas Se deficiency resulted in a delayed expression of lower numbers of receptors. To exert its effect on IL-2 receptor expression, Se must be present or absent in the cell environment 8-24 hr after stimulation, and it most likely affects processes in the cytoplasmic and/or nuclear compartments of activated lymphocytes. Thus, in the presence of continuous immunologic stimulation, the presence or absence of Se in the cell environment can result in an accelerated or delayed clonal expansion of immunocompetent lymphocytes, respectively.

Selenium (Se) is an essential nutritional factor that was shown by us to alter the expression of the high affinity interleukin 2 receptor (Il2-R) and its subunits, cell proliferation, and clonal expansion of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in mice. This study shows that dietary supplementation of Se-replete humans with 200 micrograms/d of sodium selenite for 8 wk, or in vitro supplementation with 1 x 10(-7) M Se (as sodium selenite), result in a significant augmentation of the ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes to respond to stimulation with 1 microgram/mL of phytohemagglutinin or alloantigen (mixed lymphocyte reaction) and to express high affinity Il2-R on their surface. There was a clear correlation between supplementation with Se and enhanced 3H-thymidine incorporation into nuclear DNA, preceded by enhanced expression of high affinity Il2-R. Supplementation with Se can apparently modulate T-lymphocyte mediated immune responses in humans that depend on signals generated by the interaction of interleukin 2 with Il2-R.

Histosol is a non-flammable solvent mixture of synthetic aromatic hydrocarbons with a flash point of 124 degrees F (T.C.C.). It has a lower vapor pressure and evaporation rate than other organic solvents, such as xylene, routinely used as clearing and deparaffinizing agents. Although both xylene and Histosol clear and deparaffinize soft organ tissues effectively in the preparation of permanently mounted stained slides, Histosol appears, in many instances, to be the choice solvent: tissues are easier to section; cell borders and cell surface modifications are most distinct; cytoplasmic eosinophilia is more vivid; and nuclear detail is improved. Of prime importance, Histosol is a safer and more efficient solvent for use in histological and pathological laboratories.