Low-Se Diet Increased Mitochondrial ROS to Suppress Myoblasts Proliferation and Promote Apoptosis in Broilers via miR-365-3p/SelT Signaling Axis.

microRNA (miRNA) controls the post-transcriptional translation of mRNA to affect the expression of many genes participating in functional interaction pathways. Selenoproteins are characterized by their antioxidant activity, wherein selenoprotein T (SelT) is an essential membrane-bound selenoprotein serving as a guardian of intracellular homeostasis. During muscle development and regeneration, myoblasts enter the cell cycle and rapidly proliferate. However, the role of SelT in muscle development and selenium (Se) deficiency-induced muscle damage remains poorly investigated. This study established Se deficient broiler models, chicken embryos models, and cultured chicken primary myoblasts in vitro. We showed that Se deficiency induced skeletal muscle damage in broilers, promoted miR-365-3p expression, and downregulated the level of SelT, significantly. The absence of SelT led to the accumulation of mitochondrial superoxide and downregulated mitochondrial dynamics gene expression, which, in turn, induced the disruption of mitochondria potential and blocked the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) process. Limited ATP production rate caused by mitochondrial ROS overproduction went along with cell cycle arrest, cell proliferation slowness, and myocyte apoptosis increase. Using Mito-TEMPO for mitochondrial ROS elimination could effectively mitigate the above adverse reactions and significantly restore the proliferation potential of myoblasts. Moreover, we identified miR-365-3p, a miRNA that targeted SelT mRNA to inhibit myoblast proliferation by disrupting intracellular redox balance. The omics analysis results showed that Se deficiency led to the significant enrichment of "cell cycle", "oxidative stress response", and "oxidative phosphorylation" pathway genes. Finally, we proved that the effect of the miR-365-3p/SelT signaling axis on muscle development did exist in the chicken embryo stage. In summary, our findings revealed that miR-365-3p was involved in broiler skeletal muscle damage in Se deficiency by targeting SelT, and SelT, serving as an intracellular homeostasis guardian, resisted mitochondrial oxidative stress, and protected ATP generation, promoting myoblast proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. This study provides an attractive target for the cultivated meat industry and regenerative medicine.

A lipid scramblase TMEM41B is involved in the processing and transport of GPI-anchored proteins.

Protein modification by glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) formed in the ER are transported to the cell surface through the Golgi apparatus. During transport, the GPI-anchor structure is processed. In most cells, an acyl chain modified to the inositol of GPI is removed by a GPI-inositol deacylase, PGAP1, in the ER. Inositol-deacylated GPI-APs become sensitive to bacterial phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). We previously reported that GPI-APs are partially resistant to PI-PLC when PGAP1 activity is weakened by the deletion of selenoprotein T (SELT) or cleft lip and palate transmembrane protein 1 (CLPTM1). In this study, we found that the loss of TMEM41B, an ER-localized lipid scramblase, restored PI-PLC sensitivity of GPI-APs in SELT-knockout (KO) and CLPTM1-KO cells. In TMEM41B-KO cells, the transport of GPI-APs as well as transmembrane proteins from the ER to the Golgi was delayed. Furthermore, the turnover of PGAP1, which is mediated by ER-associated degradation, was slowed in TMEM41B-KO cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that inhibition of TMEM41B-dependent lipid scrambling promotes GPI-AP processing in the ER through PGAP1 stabilization and slowed protein trafficking.

Roles of selenoprotein T and transglutaminase in active immunization against entomopathogenic fungi in the termite Reticulitermes chinensis.

Active immunization can protect individuals from infectious diseases in social insects. It is well established that trace elements are essential to the host immune system, but the related gene functions in insect social immunity are unknown. Here, we found that the levels of three free elements (Se, Ca and Cr) and selenoprotein T (SELT) expression were significantly decreased in the termite Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder during active immunization against the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin. Thus, we further explored the role of the SELT gene in the active immunization of termites. After SELT was significantly silenced by RNAi, the nestmates of fungus-contaminated termites exhibited reduced antifungal activity and increased mortality, along with increased expression of the immune genes transglutaminase (TG) and transferrin (Tsf), indicating that the active immunization of termites was disrupted by SELT silencing. Moreover, the TG-knockdown nestmates of fungus-contaminated termites significantly decreased grooming behavior, antifungal activity and survival, despite the upregulation of SELT expression, also suggesting that the active immunization of termites was disrupted by the silencing of TG. These findings demonstrated that both SELT gene and TG gene play important roles in driving active immunization against the entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae in R. chinensis.

Selenoprotein T is required for pathogenic bacteria avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Selenoprotein T (SELENOT) is an endoplasmatic reticulum (ER)-associated redoxin that contains the amino acid selenocysteine (Sec, U) within a CXXU motif within a thioredoxin-like fold. Its precise function in multicellular organisms is not completely understood although it has been shown in mammals to be involved in Ca2+ homeostasis, antioxidant and neuroendocrine functions. Here, we use the model organism C. elegans to address SELENOT function in a whole organism throughout its life cycle. C. elegans possess two genes encoding SELENOT protein orthologues (SELT-1.1 and SELT-1.2), which lack Sec and contain the CXXC redox motif instead. Our results show that a Sec→Cys replacement and a gene duplication were two major evolutionary events that occurred in the nematode lineage. We find that worm SELT-1.1 localizes to the ER and is expressed in different cell types, including the nervous system. In contrast, SELT-1.2 exclusively localizes in the cytoplasm of the AWB neurons. We find that selt-1.1 and selt-1.2 single mutants as well as the double mutant are viable, but the selt-1.1 mutant is compromised under rotenone-induced oxidative stress. We demonstrate that selt-1.1, but not selt-1.2, is required for avoidance to the bacterial pathogens Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Aversion to the noxious signal 2-nonanone is also significantly impaired in selt-1.1, but not in selt-1.2 mutant animals. Our results suggest that selt-1.1 would be a redox transducer required for nociception and optimal organismal fitness. The results highlight C. elegans as a valuable model organism to study SELENOT-dependent processes.

Se Enhances MLCK Activation by Regulating Selenoprotein T (SelT) in the Gastric Smooth Muscle of Rats.

Selenium (Se), a nutritionally essential trace element, is associated with health and disease. Selenoprotein T (SelT) was identified as a redoxin protein with a selenocystein, localizing in the endoplasmic reticulum. The myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and myosin light chain (MLC) play key roles in the contraction process of smooth muscle. The present study was to detect the effect and mechanism of SelT on the contraction process of gastric smooth muscle. The WT rats were fed with different Se concentration diets, and Se and Ca(2+) concentrations were detected in the gastric smooth muscle. Western blot and qPCR were performed to determine SelT, CaM, MLCK, and MLC expressions. MLCK activity was measured by identifying the rates of [γ-32P]ATP incorporated into the MLC. The results showed Se and Ca(2+) concentrations were enhanced with Se intake in gastric smooth muscle tissues. With increasing Se, SelT, CaM, MLCK and MLC expressions increased, and MLCK and MLC activation improved in gastric smooth muscle tissue. The SelT RNA interference experiments showed that Ca(2+) release, MLCK activation, and MLC phosphorylation were regulated by SelT. Se affected the gastric smooth muscle constriction by regulating Ca(2+) release, MLCK activation, and MLC phosphorylation through SelT. Se plays a major role in regulating the contraction processes of gastric smooth muscle with the SelT.

Effects of Se on the Diversity of SelT Synthesis and Distribution in Different Smooth Muscle Tissues in Rats.

Selenium (Se) is a nutritionally essential trace element associated with health and disease, including many muscle diseases. Selenoprotein T (SelT) has been identified as a member of the redoxin protein family that includes selenocysteine, localizing to the endoplasmic reticulum. The synthesis of selenoprotein is influenced by Se. However, there is currently no data concerning the pattern of SelT expression in smooth muscle tissues. To investigate the effects of dietary Se on the expression of SelT, 90 rats were randomly allocated into three groups: LG, NG, and HG. The LG group was fed a basal diet deficient in Se (containing 0.023 mg/kg Se); the NG and HG groups were fed Se-supplemented diets containing either 0.3 or 1.5 mg/kg Se, respectively, for 90 days. The smooth muscle of the esophagus, trachea, stomach, intestine, and blood vessels was collected when the rats were 90 days old. The Se content in the blood and tissues was examined. The messenger RNA (mRNA) of selenocysteine-tRNA([Ser]Sec) synthase (SecS), selenophosphate synthetase 1 (SPS1), selenophosphate synthetase 2 (SPS2), and SelT were examined using qPCR, and SelT protein was detected by Western blotting. The results indicated that Se had an effect on the mRNA levels of SecS, with little effect on those of SPS1 in smooth muscle tissues. SelT was expressed in the smooth muscle tissues of blood vessels, esophagus, bronchus, stomach, and intestine, and the transcription of the SelT was very sensitive to dietary Se. Thus, SelT may play a major role in the mechanisms underlying the biological activity of Se in smooth muscle tissues.

Influencing factors of self-efficacy among community-based patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective To investigate the self-efficacy levels and its influencing factors of community-based patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).Methods From October 2008 to March 2009,320 community COPD patients were recruited from a Shanghai community.They undertook questionnaires,scale survey and pulmonary function testing so as to investigate the influencing factors of self-efficacy.Results The total scale of self-efficacy was 74.24 ± 9.50 and the level of selfefficacy in 286 cases( 89.4％ )was intermediate.The knowledge of COPD,social supports,forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) and self-management level were entered into regression equation and could explain 57.1％ of the total variance of independent variables.Conclusions The knowledge of COPD,social supports,FEV1/FVC and self-management level are the major influencing factors of self-efficacy in the COPD patients.We should improve the knowledge of disease and strengthen the psychological care and social supports so as to improve their quality of life.