Selenium: A key element that controls NF‐κB activation and IκBα half life

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Abstract
Treatment of mammalian cells with hydrogen peroxide induces the nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF‐κ and its binding to κ DNA sequences present in the promoter region of numerous genes. The role of selenium in NF‐κ activation was analyzed in human T47D cells overexpressing the seleno‐dependent detoxifiant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. Following exposure to H2O2, these cells showed a seleno‐dependent decreased accumulation of intracellular ROS and NF‐κ activation. This phenomenon was correlated with an inhibition of the nuclear translocation of NF‐κ (p50 subunit) and with an absence of Iκα degradation. We also report that the half‐life of Iκα in untreated cells was increased two‐fold by the overexpression of active glutathione peroxidase. These results suggest that selenium is a key element that through its modulation of glutathione peroxidase activity can inhibit NF‐κ activation and can up‐regulate Iκα normal half life.