Effects of Selenium in the MAPK Signaling Cascade

INTRODUCTION This study aimed to discover by which mechanism selenium (Se) suppresses stimulated platelets stimulation in oxidative stress underlying diseases. METHODS Human platelets pretreated with Se and stimulated by Cu(2+)-oxidized low density of lipoprotein (OxLDL) or thrombin before assessment of P-selectin and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK), phosphorylated Jun N-terminal kinase (p- JNK), and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (p-ERK1/2). All variables were measured by solid phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Se significantly decreased Cu(2+)-OxLDL induced P-selectin expression, as well as p38 and JNK phosphorylation in platelets, but could not significantly reduce ERK1/2 phosphorylation. CONCLUSION Se suppresses inflamed platelets. This effect maybe partly mediated by the p38 or c-JNK signaling pathways. These results create possibility of new co-anti-inflammatory insight for Se in atherosclerosis.