In vitro regulation of human lymphocyte proliferation by selenium.

A chemoprotective role for dietary selenium in malignancy has been well documented in numerous epidemiological and experimental studies. The precise mechanisms of this relationship are not understood, but may be related to observations that selenium can inhibit the proliferation of various normal and neoplastic cells, both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we present evidence that selenium at physiologic concentrations can effectively inhibit the overall proliferation of human lymphocyte populations in response to various immune stimuli in vitro, including mixed lymphocyte response and response to soluble antigen (tetanus toxoid). This inhibition was reversible, indicating that selenium was not toxic to the lymphocytes at these concentrations. Preliminary data from our laboratory indicate that the antiproliferative effects of selenium may be specific for certain lymphocyte subsets. Similar modulation of immune responses in vivo could enhance various humoral and cellular immune mechanisms. Together with published evidence that selenium can inhibit tumor cell proliferation, these data may help to explain the decreased incidence of cancer associated with elevated selenium intake.