Selenium and vitamin E inhibit radiogenic and chemically induced transformation in vitro via different mechanisms

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.83.5.1490· OSTI ID:5555184

Borek, C; Ong, A; Mason, H; Donahue, L; Biaglow, J E

Results from in vivo and in vitro studies showing that antioxidants may act as anticarcinogens support the role of active oxygen in carcinogenesis and provide impetus for exploring the functions of dietary antioxidants in cancer prevention by using in vitro models. The authors examined the single and combined effects of selenium, a component of glutathione peroxidase, and vitamin E, a known antioxidant, on cell transformation induced in C3H/10T-1/2 cells by x-rays, benzo(a)pyrene, or tryptophan pyrolysate and on the levels of cellular scavenging systems peroxide destruction. Incubation of C3H/10T-1/2 cells with 2.5 ..mu..M Na/sup 2/SeO/sup 3/ (selenium) or with 7 ..mu..M ..cap alpha..-tocopherol succinate (vitamin E) 24 hr prior to exposure to x-rays or the chemical carcinogens resulted in an inhibition of transformation by each of the antioxidants with an additive-inhibitory action when the two nutrients were combined. Cellular pretreatment with selenium resulted in increased levels of cellular glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and nonprotein thiols (glutathione) and in an enhanced destruction of peroxide. The results support our earlier studies showing that free radical-mediated events play a role in radiation and chemically induced transformation. They indicate that selenium and vitamin E act alone and in additive fashion as radioprotecting and chemopreventing agents. The results further suggest that selenium confers protection in part by inducing or activating cellular free-radical scavenging systems and by enhancing peroxide breakdown while vitamin E appears to confer its protection by and alternate complementary mechanism.

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5555184
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Vol. 83:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FIBROBLASTS
ONCOGENIC TRANSFORMATIONS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
BIOCHEMISTRY
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
VITAMIN E
ANTIOXIDANTS
BENZOPYRENE
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CARCINOGENESIS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
IN VITRO
TRYPTOPHAN
X RADIATION
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMAL CELLS
AROMATICS
AZAARENES
AZOLES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL TRANSFORMATIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
INDOLES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PYRROLES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SOMATIC CELLS
VITAMINS
560120* - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals
Cells
& Tissue Culture
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology