Selenium Deficiency Can Promote the Expression of VEGF and Inflammatory Factors in Cartilage Differentiation and Mediates Cartilage Injury

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2023 Dec 30. doi: 10.1007/s12011-023-04003-5. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSelenium plays a crucial role as a micronutrient, primarily exerting its biological functions through selenoproteins. It has been established that selenium deficiency adversely impacts cartilage development, leading to alterations in chondrocyte function. In regions with low selenium intake, endemic osteochondrosis has been documented, characterized by compromised growth plate and articular cartilage formation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stands out as a pivotal angiogenic factor, with elevated levels contributing significantly to vascular invasion into chondrocytes. This VEGF-mediated invasion serves as a key signal, prompting morphological changes in the growth plate and initiating cartilage remodeling. In animal models, the selenium deficiency group exhibited heightened levels of the cartilage damage marker matrix metalloproteinases 13 (MMP13). This resulted in articular cartilage degeneration, accompanied by a substantial increase in VEGF expression within the growth plate and articular cartilage, as compared to the normal group. In a chondrogenic progenitor cell (CPC) differentiation model, insufficient selenium induced chondrocyte damage and upregulated inflammatory factors such as inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2). The selenium-deficient groups showed elevated expressions of VEGF, VEGFR2, MMP13, Collagen X, and Angiopoietin 1, accelerati...

Source: Biological Trace Element Research - December 30, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Xiang Meng Xiumei Meng Zeju He Ye Yuan Yong Fan Li Yin Yu Tong Zheping Hong Senbo Zhu Qiong Zhang Qing Bi Source Type: research