The effect of selenium on immune functions of J774.1 cells.

The J774.1 macrophage cell line was used as a tool to investigate the influence of selenium on macrophage function. In vitro selenium supplementation enhanced phagocytosis, degranulation by the release of beta-glucuronidase after N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) or cytochalasin B, and the production of superoxide anion after phorbol myristate acetate stimulation of these cells, while the release of nitric oxide was not affected by the selenium status. Selenium supplementation enhanced significantly (p < 0.05) the release of tumor necrosis factor (5-fold), interleukin-1 (3-fold) and interleukin-6 (2.5-fold) after 10 microg/ml lipopolysaccharide stimulation compared to selenium-deficient cells.