Selenium Deficiency-Induced Apoptosis of Chick Embryonic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Correlations with 25 Selenoproteins.

Selenium deficiency is the major cause of exudative diathesis in chicks. Subcutaneous hemorrhage is one of the typical symptoms of the disease. However, the reason for the occurrence of blood exudation remains unknown. In the present study, the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were isolated from 17-day-old broiler chick embryos. Cell viability, cell apoptosis, and intracellular reactive oxygen species level under different concentrations of selenium (0-0.9 µM) were investigated. The mRNA expression levels of 25 selenoproteins and apoptosis-related genes (p53, CytC, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Bcl-2, and Bax) were also measured. Selenium deficiency significantly decreased cell viability and increased cell apoptosis (p < 0.05). Supplementation with selenium could alleviate these changes. In general, at all levels of selenium addition, Gpx1, Gpx3, Gpx4, SepW1, and Sep15 mRNAs were all highly expressed in VSMCs, whereas Gpx2, Dio1, SepN1, SelO, and SelPb were at lower levels. There was a high correlation between Gpx2, Gpx3, Gpx4, Dio1, Txnrd1, Txnrd2, and Txnrd3 gene expression. Additionally, Gpx3, Gpx4, Dio1, Txnrd1, Txnrd2, Txnrd3, SelS, and SelPb showed a strong negative correlation with pro-apoptotic gene Caspase-3 as well as a strong positive correlation with anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2, especially SelI (r = 0.913 and r = 0.929, p < 0.01). These results suggest that selenium deficiency could induce VSMC apoptosis, and several selenoproteins may be involved in the development of apoptosis. Our findings provide information on the molecular mechanism of vascular injury by selenium deficiency.

Effects of a Tripeptide Iron on Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Rats.

This study aims to investigate the effects of a tripeptide iron (REE-Fe) on iron-deficiency anemia rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups: a normal control group, an iron-deficiency control group, and iron-deficiency groups treated with ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), ferrous glycinate (Fe-Gly), or REE-Fe at low-, medium-, or high-dose groups. The rats in the iron-deficiency groups were fed on an iron-deficient diet to establish iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) model. After the model established, different iron supplements were given to the rats once a day by intragastric administration for 21 days. The results showed that REE-Fe had effective restorative action returning body weight, organ coefficients, and hematological parameters in IDA rats to normal level. In addition, comparing with FeSO4 or Fe-Gly, high-dose REE-Fe was more effective on improving the levels of renal coefficient, total iron-binding capacity, and transferrin. Furthermore, the liver hepcidin messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the high-dose group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in the FeSO4 or Fe-Gly group and showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) with the normal control group. The findings suggest that REE-Fe is an effective source of iron supplement for IDA rats and might be exploited as a new iron fortifier.

Modulation of gut microbiota by polyphenols from adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf.) in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet.

This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of polyphenol extract of adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf.) (PEA) on gut microbiota in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet (HCD). Rats were fed HCD containing 1% cholesterol (w/w), with or without a daily intragastric supplement of 200 mg/kg body weight PEA. Results showed that PEA significantly ameliorated increases in serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values and significantly restored high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values. The HCD-induced imbalance of gut microflora was modulated by the consumption of PEA. Most bacterial strains influenced by PEA are related to host lipid metabolism. The abundances of one Erysipelotrichales strains and two Clostridia strains were lower in the PEA group than in the control. Phenolic compounds in PEA were identified by HPLC. The findings indicate that PEA may be a useful dietary supplement in the treatment of elevated cholesterol levels and the imbalanced gut microbial ecology.