Preclinical Evaluation of Sodium Selenite in Mice: Toxicological and Tumor Regression Studies after Striatum Implantation of Human Glioblastoma Stem Cells

Sodium selenite inhibits the growth of cervical cancer cells through the PI3K/AKT pathway

BACKGROUND

Selenium can inhibit cervical cancers, but the specific mechanism of anti-cervical cancer is not fully understood.

METHODS

In this study, we investigated the anti-cervical cancer effect of sodium selenite (SS) in vivo and in vitro to reveal the role of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway in terms of the mechanism. In vivo experiments, HeLa cell xenografts were constructed in BALB/c female nude mice, and then intraperitoneally injected with 3 mg/kg sodium selenite (SS) for 14 days. In vitro experiments, we detected cell viability by MTT assay and apoptosis by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The levels of PI3K, AKT, phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), and phosphorylated Akt (p-AKT) were measured by Western Blot.

RESULTS

HeLa cell xenografts in female nude mice showed delayed tumor growth and no apparent toxicity in the liver or kidney. SS reduced the viability and increased apoptosis of HeLa and SiHa cells. SS did not affect PI3K and AKT levels and decreased p-PI3K and p-AKT levels. In addition, the results also revealed that the SS combined with LY294002, a specific PI3K inhibitor, enhanced the inhibitory effect of SS on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, further inhibiting cervical cancer cell viability and increased apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

SS exerted its anti-cervical cancer effects by inhibiting cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis, and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Editorial to Special Issue "Glioblastoma: Recapitulating the Key Breakthroughs and Future Perspective"

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most common and aggressive malignant primary brain tumor [...].

Seleno-Metabolites and Their Precursors: A New Dawn for Several Illnesses?

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for human health as it is involved in different physiological functions. Moreover, a great number of Se compounds can be considered potential agents in the prevention and treatment of some diseases. It is widely recognized that Se activity is related to multiple factors, such as its chemical form, dose, and its metabolism. The understanding of its complex biochemistry is necessary as it has been demonstrated that the metabolites of the Se molecules used to be the ones that exert the biological activity. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize the recent information about its most remarkable metabolites of acknowledged biological effects: hydrogen selenide (HSe-/H2Se) and methylselenol (CH3SeH). In addition, special attention is paid to the main seleno-containing precursors of these derivatives and their role in different pathologies.