PURPOSE Cataract is the leading cause of blindness and is associated with oxidative damage and protein modification in the lens. In the present study, we have employed proteomic and microscopic approaches to investigate the attenuation of selenite cataract by the flavonoids from Vitex negundo (FVN). METHODS To demonstrate this attenuation, Sprague-Dawley rat pups were divided into control (G ...

Bacteria can reduce toxic selenite into less toxic, elemental selenium (Se(0)), but the mechanism on how bacterial cells reduce selenite at molecular level is still not clear. We used Escherichia coli strain K12, a common bacterial strain, as a model to study its growth response to sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) treatment and then used quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to quantify transcript leve...

The interaction of selenate, selenite, and chromate with the hydrated surface of gamma-Al(2)O(3) was studied using a combination of macroscopic pH edge data, electrophoretic mobility measurements, and X-ray absorption spectroscopic analyses. The pH edge data show generally increased oxyanion adsorption with decreasing pH, and indicate ionic strength-(in)dependent adsorption of chromate and sele...

In situ reduction of selenite to elemental selenium (Se(0)), by microorganisms in sediments and soils is an important process and greatly affects the environmental distribution and the biological effects of selenium. However, the mechanism behind such a biological process remains unrevealed yet. Here we use Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, a widely-distributed dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium ...

I. Information was sought concerning the long-term fate of orally and intravenously administered [75Se]selenomethionine and [7SSe]selenite in rats. 2. Crinary and faecal radioactivity was assayed during the 1st week and whole-body radioactivity was determined weekly for 16 weeks. Rats were killed at intervals for analysis of 75Se tissue distribution. 3. Intestinal absorption after oral administ...

PURPOSE Selenite-induced cataract is associated with oxidative stress, loss of calcium homeostasis, activation of calpain enzymes, and apoptotic cell death in the lens. An evaluation of naturally occurring antioxidants that also restrict calcium influx into the lens and calpain activation and thus prevent lenticular cell death may lead to the development of safe and effective anticataractogenic...

The relationship between selenium and signal molecules has not been well elucidated. It was found that physiological concentration of selenite, 3 microM, reduced ASK1 activity and induced PI3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt pathways in HT1080 cells. Duration of these signal molecules by selenite was much longer than that by growth factors and other stresses. The longer duration time of these signal molecule...

BACKGROUND Previous studies demonstrated that selenite induced cancer-cell apoptosis through multiple mechanisms; however, effects of selenite on microtubules in leukemic cells have not been demonstrated. METHODS The toxic effect of selenite on leukemic HL60 cells was performed with cell counting kit 8. Selenite effects on cell cycle distribution and apoptosis induction were determined by flo...

A single subcutaneous dose of 30 nmol of sodium selenite per gram of body weight in 13-day-old rats resulted in posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC) after 24 hr and bilateral nuclear cataracts at 72-96 hr. Within 24 hr of treatment, a 60% decrease in lens glutathione was seen. A loss of calcium homeostasis observed by 48 hr resulted in increased lens calcium (4 mumol/g dry weight), which accomp...