Effects of Selenium Nanoparticles on Preventing Patulin-Induced Liver, Kidney and Gastrointestinal Damage

Patulin induced neuronal cell damage in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

Patulin, a mycotoxin produced by fungal species, is found in fruits and their derivatives. Exposure to it can lead to cognitive deficits and neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding its mechanisms is crucial for assessing risks in food, emphasizing the need for strict food safety regulations to protect public health. In this study SH-SY5Y, a human neuroblastoma cell line was challenged with the mycotoxin patulin. Patulin was treated to the cells for 24 h at 25-2000 nM, concentrations respectively. The results obtained demonstrate the cytotoxicity as assessed by the MTT and LDH leakage assays with an IC50 at a dose of 500 nM. The light microscope images showed a decreased in neurites size with increase in doses of patulin. The patulin treatment showed a decrease in antioxidant enzymes SOD and catalase levels and an increase in ROS and lipid peroxidation levels. Patulin treatment also showed a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial damage, with vacuolation of mitochondria visualized by transmission electron microscope. Patulin treatment also showed DNA damage observed by comet assay. The study demonstrates that patulin induces cellular damage, and induces oxidative stress, apoptosis, mitochondrial and DNA damage.

Selenium-enriched Kazachstania unispora KU2 ameliorates patulin-induced intestinal injury in mice by mediating the gut microbiota and selenoprotein P synthesis

Patulin (PAT) is a foodborne mycotoxin that causes intestinal injury. Selenium (Se)-enriched Kazachstania unispora (K. unispora) KU2 is a novel dietary Se carrier, and Se exerts important roles in intestinal homeostasis. Here, we examined the ameliorative effects of K. unispora KU2 and Se-enriched K. unispora KU2 against PAT-induced intestinal injury. Results indicated that both K. unispora KU2 and Se-enriched K. unispora KU2 alleviated PAT-induced inflammatory infiltration, disrupted gut microbiota, and associated metabolic imbalances, indicating the probiotic potential of this strain. Se-enriched K. unispora KU2 exhibited more pronounced remediation comparable to K. unispora KU2, revealing the promoting effect of Se. Furthermore, Se-enriched K. unispora KU2 restored intestinal Se homeostasis by upregulating SEPP1 levels to mitigate intestinal injury. Using pseudo germ-free mouse models, we confirmed that gut microbiota was required for the improvement in SEPP1 synthesis and intestinal transport mediated by Se-enriched K. unispora KU2. These findings elucidate a mechanism whereby the alleviation of PAT-induced intestinal injury by Se-enriched K. unispora KU2 is linked to upregulation of SEPP1 by the gut microbiota, suggesting its potential therapeutic relevance for intestinal diseases.

Accumulation and metabolism of selenium in the rare yeast Kazachstania unispora during the selenium enrichment process

Selenium (Se)-enriched yeast is a good nutritional source for human being. Kazachstania unispora (K. unispora) has shown the positive physiological functionality for human health, whose potential for Se enrichment, however, remains elusive. This study demonstrated the ability of K. unispora to convert inorganic Se to organic Se, and then comprehensively investigated the accumulation and metabolism of Se in K. unispora. The results indicated that K. unispora can effectively accumulate organic Se, of which 95% of absorbed Se was converted to organic forms. Among these organic Se, 46.17% of them was bound to protein and 16.78% was combined with polysaccharides. In addition, some of the organic Se was metabolized to selenomethionine (30.26%) and selenocystine (3.02%), during which four low-molecular weight selenometabolites were identified in K. unispora. These findings expand the scope of Se-enriched yeast species, and provide useful knowledge for further investigation of Se enrichment mechanism in K. unispora.

10-Eicosanol Alleviates Patulin-Induced Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis by Activating AKT (Protein Kinase B) in Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Patulin (PAT) is a fungal toxin prevalent in apples and apple products and associated with several toxic effects, potentially harming multiple organs, including the kidneys, liver, and colon. However, the precise molecular mechanism through which PAT affects the intestines remains comprehensively unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the molecular effects of PAT on the intestinal epithelium. Gene expression profiling was conducted, hypothesizing that PAT induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Cell cycle analysis, along with Annexin-V and propidium iodide staining, confirmed that PAT induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in IPEC-J2 cells. Additionally, PAT activated the expression of cell cycle-related genes (CDK1, CCNB1) and apoptosis-related genes (BCL6, CASP9). Treatment with SC79, an AKT activator, mitigated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. To identify natural products that could mitigate the harmful effects of PAT in small intestinal epithelial cells in pigs, the high-throughput screening of a natural product library was conducted, revealing 10-Eicosanol as a promising candidate. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that 10-Eicosanol alleviates PAT-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in IPEC-J2 cells by activating AKT.

Evaluation of the Immune Response of Patulin by Proteomics

Patulin, an emerging mycotoxin with high toxicity, poses great risks to public health. Considering the poor antibody production in patulin immunization, this study focuses on the four-dimensional data-independent acquisition (4D-DIA) quantitative proteomics to reveal the immune response of patulin in rabbits. The rabbit immunization was performed with the complete developed antigens of patulin, followed by the identification of the immune serum. A total of 554 differential proteins, including 292 up-regulated proteins and 262 down-regulated proteins, were screened; the differential proteins were annotated; and functional enrichment analysis was performed. The differential proteins were associated with the pathways of metabolism, gene information processing, environmental information processing, cellular processes, and organismal systems. The functional enrichment analysis indicated that the immunization procedures mostly resulted in the regulation of biochemical metabolic and signal transduction pathways, including the biosynthesis of amino acid (glycine, serine, and threonine), ascorbate, and aldarate metabolism; fatty acid degradation; and antigen processing and presentation. The 14 key proteins with high connectivity included G1U9T1, B6V9S9, G1SCN8, G1TMS5, G1U9U0, A0A0G2JH20, G1SR03, A0A5F9DAT4, G1SSA2, G1SZ14, G1T670, P30947, P29694, and A0A5F9C804, which were obtained by the analysis of protein-protein interaction networks. This study could provide potential directions for protein interaction and antibody production for food hazards in animal immunization.

Molecular Mechanisms of the Therapeutic Effect of Selenium Nanoparticles in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

This review describes and summarizes, for the first time, the molecular mechanisms of the cytotoxic effect of selenium nanoparticles of various origins on hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The text provides information from recent years indicating the regulation of various signaling pathways and endoplasmic reticulum stress by selenium nanoparticles; the pathways of cell death of liver cancer cells as a result of exposure to selenium nanoparticles are considered. Particular attention is paid to the participation of selenoproteins and selenium-containing thioredoxin reductases and glutathione peroxidases in these processes. Previously, there were no reviews that fully reflected the cytotoxic effects of selenium nanoparticles specifically in hepatocellular carcinoma, despite the fact that many reviews and experimental articles have been devoted to the causes of this disease and the molecular mechanisms of regulation of cytotoxic effects by other agents. The relevance of this review is primarily explained by the fact that despite the development of various drugs and approaches for the treatment and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma, this disease is still the fourth leading cause of death in the world. For this reason, a complete understanding of the latest trends in the treatment of oncology of various etiologies, especially hepatocellular carcinoma, is extremely important.

Metal-Organic Framework Based Mucoadhesive Nanodrugs for Multifunction Helicobacter Pylori Targeted Eradication, Inflammation Regulation and Gut Flora Protection

The prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria presents a significant challenge to the antibiotic treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), while traditional antimicrobial agents often suffer from shortcomings such as poor gastric retention, inadequate alleviation of inflammation, and significant adverse effects on the gut microbiota. Here, a selenized chitosan (CS-Se) modified bismuth-based metal-organic framework (Bi-MOF@CS-Se) nanodrug is reported that can target mucin through the charge interaction of the outer CS-Se layer to achieve mucosal adhesion and gastric retention. Additionally, the Bi-MOF@CS-Se can respond to gastric acid and pepsin degradation, and the exposed Bi-MOF exhibits excellent antibacterial properties against standard H. pylori as well as clinical antibiotic-resistant strains. Remarkably, the Bi-MOF@CS-Se effectively alleviates inflammation and excessive oxidative stress by regulating the expression of inflammatory factors and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby exerting therapeutic effects against H. pylori infection. Importantly, this Bi-MOF@CS-Se nanodrug does not affect the homeostasis of gut microbiota, providing a promising strategy for efficient and safe treatment of H. pylori infection.

A Review of the Antibacterial, Fungicidal and Antiviral Properties of Selenium Nanoparticles

The resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial drugs is an important problem worldwide. To solve this problem, active searches for antimicrobial components, approaches and therapies are being carried out. Selenium nanoparticles have high potential for antimicrobial activity. The relevance of their application is indisputable, which can be noted due to the significant increase in publications on the topic over the past decade. This review of research publications aims to provide the reader with up-to-date information on the antimicrobial properties of selenium nanoparticles, including susceptible microorganisms, the mechanisms of action of nanoparticles on bacteria and the effect of nanoparticle properties on their antimicrobial activity. This review describes the most complete information on the antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal effects of selenium nanoparticles.

The Role of Selenium Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Liver Pathologies of Various Natures

The liver is the body's largest gland, and regulates a wide variety of physiological processes. The work of the liver can be disrupted in a variety of pathologies, the number of which is several hundred. It is extremely important to monitor the health of the liver and develop approaches to combat liver diseases. In recent decades, nanomedicine has become increasingly popular in the treatment of various liver pathologies, in which nanosized biomaterials, which are inorganic, polymeric, liposomal, albumin, and other nanoparticles, play an important role. Given the need to develop environmentally safe, inexpensive, simple, and high-performance biomedical agents for theragnostic purposes and showing few side effects, special attention is being paid to nanoparticles based on the important trace element selenium (Se). It is known that the metabolism of the microelement Se occurs in the liver, and its deficiency leads to the development of several serious diseases in this organ. In addition, the liver is the depot for most selenoproteins, which can reduce oxidative stress, inhibit tumor growth, and prevent other liver damage. This review is devoted to the description of the results of recent years, revealing the important role of selenium nanoparticles in the therapy and diagnosis of several liver pathologies, depending on the dose and physicochemical properties. The possibilities of selenium nanoparticles in the treatment of liver diseases, disclosed in the review, will not only reveal the advantages of their hepatoprotective properties but also significantly supplement the data on the role of the trace element selenium in the regulation of these diseases.

The effects of natural active substances in food on the toxicity of patulin

Patulin (PAT) is a mycotoxin, a secondary metabolite mainly produced by fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Byssochlamys, and Penicillium. Many studies have looked into the potential impacts of this mycotoxin due to its high risk. Researchers are currently doing a more in-depth investigation of and employing physical, chemical, and biological ways to remove PAT. However, existing technology cannot completely remove it, and the residual PAT will continue to pose a threat to human health. As a result, substances capable of reducing PAT toxicity need be discovered. According to previous studies, natural components in food could reduce the toxicity of PAT. This article will review the different types of active compounds and discus the detoxification processes, as well as give recommendations for decreasing the toxicity of PAT and future research directions.

Immunomodulatory roles of selenium nanoparticles: Novel arts for potential immunotherapy strategy development

Current chemotherapy strategies used in clinic appear with lots of disadvantages due to the low targeting effects of drugs and strong side effects, which significantly restricts the drug potency, causes multiple dysfunctions in the body, and even drives the emergence of diseases. Immunotherapy has been proved to boost the body’s innate and adaptive defenses for more effective disease control and treatment. As a trace element, selenium plays vital roles in human health by regulating the antioxidant defense, enzyme activity, and immune response through various specific pathways. Profiting from novel nanotechnology, selenium nanoparticles have been widely developed to reveal great potential in anticancer, antibacterial, and anti-inflammation treatments. More interestingly, increasing evidence has also shown that functional selenium nanoparticles can be applied for potential immunotherapy, which would achieve more effective treatment efficiency as adjunctive therapy strategies for the current chemotherapy. By directly interacting with innate immune cells, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells, selenium nanoparticles can regulate innate immunity to intervene disease developments, which were reported to boost the anticancer, anti-infection, and anti-inflammation treatments. Moreover, selenium nanoparticles can also activate and recover different T cells for adaptive immunity regulations to enhance their cytotoxic to combat cancer cells, indicating the potential of selenium nanoparticles for potential immunotherapy strategy development. Here, aiming to enhance our understanding of the potential immunotherapy strategy development based on Se NPs, this review will summarize the immunological regulation effects of selenium nanoparticles and the application of selenium nanoparticle-based immunotherapy strategies. Furthermore, we will discuss the advancing perspective of selenium nanoparticle-based potential immunotherapy as a kind of novel adjunctive therapy to enhance the efficiency of current chemotherapies and also introduce the current obstacles for the development of selenium nanoparticles for potential immunotherapy strategy development. This work is expected to promote the future research on selenium nanoparticle-assisted immunotherapy and finally benefit the more effective disease treatments against the threatening cancer and infectious and chronic diseases.