Gene-specific regulation of hepatic selenoprotein expression by interleukin-6Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5mt00211g

• Main Authors: Martitz, J, Becker, N.-P, Renko, K, Stoedter, M, Hybsier, S, Schomburg, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 04-11-2015
• ISSN: 1756-5901; 1756-591X
• DOI: 10.1039/c5mt00211g

Sepsis is a severe inflammatory disease resulting in excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), causing oxidative stress, tissue damage and organ dysfunction. Health benefits have been observed upon selenium (Se) supplementation in severe sepsis. Selenium is incorporated into selenoproteins implicated in anti-oxidative defence, thyroid hormone metabolism and immunoregulation. Selenium metabolism is controlled by hepatocytes synthesizing and secreting the Se transporter selenoprotein P (SePP). The circulating SePP declines in sepsis causing low serum Se levels. Dysregulation of the hepatic selenoenzyme deiodinase type 1 (DIO1) potentially contributes to the low T3 (thyroid hormone) syndrome observed in severe diseases. We hypothesized that IL-6 affects hepatic selenoprotein biosynthesis directly. Testing human hepatocytes in culture, IL-6 reduced the concentrations of SePP mRNA and secreted SePP in a dose-dependent manner. In parallel, expression of DIO1 declined at the mRNA, protein and enzyme activity level. The effects of IL-6 on glutathione peroxidase (GPX) expression were isozyme-specific; GPX1 remained unaffected, while transcript concentrations of GPX2 increased and those of GPX4 decreased. This pattern of IL-6-dependent effects was mirrored in reporter gene experiments with SePP, DIO1, GPX1, and GPX2 promoter constructs pointing to direct transcriptional effects of IL-6. The redirection of hepatic selenoprotein biosynthesis by IL-6 may represent a central regulatory circuit responsible for the decline of serum Se and low T3 concentrations in sepsis. Accordingly, therapeutic IL-6 targeting may be effective for improving the Se and thyroid hormone status, adjuvant Se supplementation success and survival in sepsis.
The pro-inflammatory cytokine affects selenoprotein biosynthesis in hepatocytes directly, in favour of protective GPX2 and at the expense of Se transporter SePP and thyroid hormone deiodinase DIO1.