Selenium in plants: A nexus of growth, antioxidants, and phytohormones.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for both human and animals. Plants serve as the primary source of Se in the food chain. Se concentration and availability in plants is influenced by soil properties and environmental conditions. Optimal Se levels promote plant growth and enhance stress tolerance, while excessive Se concentration can result in toxicity. Se enhances plants ROS scavenging ability by promoting antioxidant compound synthesis. The ability of Se to maintain redox balance depends upon ROS compounds, stress conditions and Se application rate. Furthermore, Se-dependent antioxidant compound synthesis is critically reliant on plant macro and micro nutritional status. As these nutrients are fundamental for different co-factors and amino acid synthesis. Additionally, phytohormones also interact with Se to promote plant growth. Hence, utilization of phytohormones and modified crop nutrition can improve Se-dependent crop growth and plant stress tolerance. This review aims to explore the assimilation of Se into plant proteins, its intricate effect on plant redox status, and the specific interactions between Se and phytohormones. Furthermore, we highlight the proposed physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying Se-mediated phytohormone-dependent plant growth modulation and identified research opportunities that could contribute to sustainable agricultural production in the future.

Research progress on the relationship between nuclear factor-κB in placenta and pregnancy complications / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is an important intracellular transcription factor, which regulates the expression of many genes including inflammation and apoptosis and is widely distributed in placenta. In this review, we introduced the relationship between placental NF-κB and pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, HELLP syndromne and premature rupture of membranes. The role of placental NF-κB in the development of the pregnancy complications and the progress of the treatment of related diseases through the NF-κB pathway was summarized. This review will lay the foundation for the further study of placental related diseases and provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy complications.