Division of Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge F46, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
EPMA J. 2010 Sep;1(3):389-95. doi: 10.1007/s13167-010-0033-2. Epub 2010 Jun 29.
Selenium is an essential element with remarkable chemical properties. The similarity to sulphur results in a number of chemical interactions mainly connected to thiols and redox processes. The element modulates cell growth; in low concentrations it is absolutely required for growth and an essential component of serum free growth media. However moderate to high concentrations potently inhibit cell growth. The inhibitory effects are tumour specific and selenium induces apoptosis in malignant cells at concentrations that do not affect the viability of normal cells. Depending on concentration and chemical form selenium may prevent or treat tumour disease. Selenium supplementation has been found to be of value in preventing hepatocellular cancer by hepatitis B, in reducing the incidence of liver cancer in general and in decreasing mortality of colorectal, lung and prostate cancer. This review focuses on the current knowledge of the preventive effects of selenium with special emphasis on major human tumours. The unique chemical properties along with metabolism and preventive mechanisms are also discussed.
硒是一种具有显著化学性质的必需元素。其与硫的相似性导致了许多化学相互作用，主要与硫醇和氧化还原过程有关。该元素调节细胞生长；在低浓度时，它对生长是绝对必需的，并且是无血清生长培养基的重要组成部分。然而，中等至高浓度会强烈抑制细胞生长。抑制作用是肿瘤特异性的，硒在不会影响正常细胞活力的浓度下诱导恶性细胞凋亡。根据浓度和化学形式，硒可能预防或治疗肿瘤疾病。补充硒已被发现对乙型肝炎引起的肝细胞癌、降低肝癌总体发病率以及降低结直肠癌、肺癌和前列腺癌死亡率具有重要价值。本综述重点介绍了硒的预防作用的最新知识，特别强调了主要的人类肿瘤。还讨论了其独特的化学性质、代谢和预防机制。
