Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, sowohl die Auswirkungen einer veränderten Selenversorgung über die Nahrung als auch die Rolle des zentralen Transport- und Speicherproteins für Selen (Selenoprotein P, SepP) auf die intestinale Tumorigenese tierexperimentell zu untersuchen. Eine gestörte SepP-Expression, führte zur Ausbildung größerer Tumore. Durch eine Steigerung der Selenversorgung über die Nahrung eine signifikante Reduktion von Tumoranzahl und Gesamttumorfläche erzielt werden. Hierzu wurde den Tieren ab Tag 21 das Vierfache der empfohlenen Tagesdosis (RDA) für Selen verabreicht. Die Ergebnisse zeigten zudem, dass die Auswirkungen einer verminderten SepP-Expression durch eine nutritive Se-Supplementation kompensiert werden können. Der Verlust eines SepP-Allels war mit einer gesteigerten Infiltration von Mastzellen ins Tumorgewebe und höheren Il6-Spiegeln im Serum assoziiert. Auch waren die Tumore dieser Versuchsgruppen schlechter differenziert. Diese Resultate weisen auf eine modulatorische Wirkung von SepP auf die krebsbedingte Immunantwort hin und unterstreichen eine zentrale Rolle dieses Selenoproteins in Bezug auf anti-kanzerogene Wirkmechanismen von Selen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigen somit erstmals die Abhängigkeit protektiver Selen-vermittelter Effekte von einer optimalen SepP-Expression und die präventiven Fähigkeiten einer gesteigerten Selenzufuhr zur Kompensation eines nachteiligen Genotyps. Somit können gerade Menschen, die z.B. aufgrund ihrer genetischen Prädisposition ein erhöhtes Darmkrebsrisiko aufweisen von einer gesteigerten präventiven Supplementation profitieren. Dennoch zeigen Vorarbeiten und die Ergebnisse zu den transgenen Versuchstieren, dass es gerade in Bezug auf eine therapeutische Anwendung unabdingbar ist, ein wachstumsförderndes Potential einer solchen Intervention nach erfolgter Tumorinitiation auszuschließen. Hierzu muss in weitergehenden Studien noch eine geeignete Strategie entwickelt und getestet werden. / The aim of this work was to evaluate to which extend the gene expression of the central transport and storage protein for selenium (Selenoprotein P, SepP) is required to mediate health promoting effects and if these effects can be modulated by selenium supplementation. SepP+/--mice were crossed with Apcmin/+-mice to elucidate the potential disadvantage of a decreased SepP-expression. A third mouse strain, expressing human SEPP in liver, was used to study the beneficial effects of additional circulating human SEPP. Two diets with different selenium content were used to obtain better insights into how SepP-expression influences intestinal tumorigenesis. The loss of one SepP-allele resulted in the development of larger tumors. Overall tumor-count and -area could be reduced by increasing nutritional selenium concentrations. Increased tumorigenesis could thus be compensated for raising nutritional Se concentrations. Interestingly, the additional expression of human SEPP did not elicit any cancer-preventive action. An increased number of mast cells was found in tumorous tissue of SepP+/--mice. This was accompanied by a lower differentiation state and higher Il6 concentrations in serum of heterozygous mice. The results indicate that the SepP genotype is modulating the immune response and highlight the central role of SepP in mediating the anti-cancerogenic effects of Se. We are the first to show that protective effects of Se are related to the expression of SepP and that the negative outcome of a reduced expression can be alleviated by raising nutritional Se supply. Individuals with a higher risk for colorectal cancer may thus benefit from supplementation strategies. Nevertheless the data obtained from transgenic mice and the results of previous studies indicate that therapeutic administration of Se should be handled with care. Especially the potential danger of supplemental Se promoting tumor growth in advanced stages should be addressed in further investigations.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that are known to elicit adverse health effects including skin toxicity and cancer to animals and humans. 4-Monochlorobiphenyl (PCB3), a low-chlorinated airborne PCB conger is present in human blood and the environment. 1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-benzo-2,5-quinone (4-ClBQ), a quinone metabolite of PCB3, has been shown to induce oxidative stress and toxicity in human mammary and prostate epithelial cells. These studies were designed to investigate and characterize the cellular responses to 4-ClBQ in HaCaT human skin keratinocytes. We found that 4-ClBQ treatment increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inhibited cell proliferation, and induced toxicity in HaCaT cells. Results from a Human Antioxidant Mechanism PCR array and quantitative RT-PCR assay showed that the mRNA levels of antioxidant gene selenoprotein P (sepp1) and catalase were significantly downregulated by the treatment, which correlated with evident decreases in their protein levels and catalase enzymatic activity. Pharmacological (sodium selenite supplementation) and molecular (sepp1overexpression) manipulation of SEPP1 expression significantly suppressed 4-ClBQ induced oxidative stress and toxicity. Additional results demonstrated that decreased catalase expression was associated with an inhibition in transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator activated receptor Γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) expression. Overexpression of pgc-1α restored catalase expression and activity and consequently protected HaCaT cells from 4-ClBQ induced oxidative stress and toxicity. Furthermore, results from metabolic flux analysis using Seahorse XF96 Analyzer showed that 4-ClBQ treatment increased extracellular acidification rate, proton production rate, and oxygen consumption rate, which were associated with increases in glucose uptake and in the expression of glucose metabolism regulatory gene hexokinase 2, pyruvate kinase M2, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). G6PD is the rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway. The enhanced expression of G6PD correlated with an increase in cellular glutathione content; and inhibition of G6PD activity sensitized HaCaT cells to 4-ClBQ induced toxicity, suggesting that the protective function of the pentose phosphate pathway is active in 4-ClBQ treated cells. Interestingly, we also found that 4-ClBQ selectively and significantly decreased mitochondrial complex II subunits C (sdhc) and D (sdhd) mRNA expression and subsequently reduced complex II activity leading to metabolic oxidative stress and toxicity, which were significantly suppressed by overexpressing sdhc and sdhd in HaCaT cells. Taken together, findings from this project demonstrate that 4-ClBQ treatment increases ROS production through perturbing cellular metabolism and mitochondrial function and decreases antioxidant capacity by inhibiting SEPP1 and catalase expression in HaCaT cells. This imbalance due to increased mitochondrial prooxidant production and decreased antioxidant capacity leads to oxidative stress and toxicity. Importantly, antioxidant supplementation could abrogate 4-ClBQ induced toxicity, suggesting that antioxidants, especially nutrient-based manipulation of selenoproteins could be promising countermeasures for PCB induced adverse health effects in humans.

Radiation is a common mode of cancer therapy that is well known to generate reactive oxygen species leading to cell damage and death. However, there are many limitations to radiation therapy including normal tissue toxicity and the presence of quiescent cancer cells that are radio-resistant. There are many factors that regulate normal and cancer cell radiation response including the cellular redox environment which includes a complex network of antioxidants. In this study, two specific objectives will be explored: (A) SEPP1 regulation of normal cell toxicity; and (B) FoxM1 regulation of quiescence-associated radiation resistance in human oral squamous carcinoma cells. Results from DHE-oxidation analysis show that in irradiated proliferating normal cells there is a late ROS accumulation that occurs independent of cell cycle checkpoint activation and precedes cell death. Additionally, Q-RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis show an increase in Selenoprotein P (SEPP1) expression following radiation. SEPP1 is an extracellular glycoprotein with proposed selenium transport and antioxidant functions. However, pretreatment of normal cells with sodium selenite or overexpression of sepp1 is able to mitigate radiation-induced normal cell toxicity. It is well-accepted that quiescent populations exist in most solid tumors and are often the reason for tumor recurrence. In this study, we see that quiescent head and neck cancer cells that are resistant to radiation have low basal expression of Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) compared to proliferating cancer cells. FoxM1 is a transcription factor that has recently been implicated in the cellular response to oxidative stress. Results indicate that although basal expression is low in quiescent cells, following irradiation FoxM1 is increased in quiescent cancer cells but not in proliferating cancer cells. Additionally, pharmacological and genetic knockdown of FoxM1 led to sensitization of quiescent cancer cells indicating that FoxM1 inhibitors could be useful radiation sensitizers. Together, these objectives will help to identify possible treatment options to use in addition to radiation therapy to better target quiescence-associated resistant tumors and induce less normal cell toxicity.

Das essentielle Spurenelement Selen (Se) wird als einziges Spurenelement über den genetischen Code als Bestandteil der 21. proteinogene Aminosäure Selenocystein (SeCys) in eine kleine Gruppe von Proteinen eingebaut. Als Bestandteil des aktiven Zentrums dieser Selenoproteine ist Se bzw. SeCys essentiell für deren Funktion. Die Biosynthese der Selenoproteine ist durch eine Reihe von Besonderheiten gekennzeichnet, so z.B. durch eine hierarchisch abgestimmte Versorgung der unterschiedlichen Organe mit dem limitierenden Spurenelement bzw. durch eine hierarchische Versorgung der einzelnen Selenoproteine während ihrer Biosynthese. Für die biologische Verwertung und Verteilung ist das Selenoprotein SePP von zentraler Bedeutung. Transkriptomanalysen haben aufgezeigt, dass gerade in Tumoren die Expression von SePP stark erniedrigt ist. In dieser Arbeit wurde untersucht, inwieweit der Verlust von SePP einen kausalen Einfluss auf die Tumorigenese nimmt. Hierzu wurden zwei transgene Mausmodelle verkreuzt: zum einen Mäuse mit einem partiellen bzw. kompletten genetischen Verlust der SePP-Expression und zum anderen Mäuse mit einer Mutation im APC-Tumorsuppressorgen, welche multiple intestinale Neoplasien (Min) auslöst und als Paradigma in der experimentellen Darmkrebsforschung dient. Der komplette Verlust des SePP-Gens bewirkte eine stark erhöhte Tumorrate im Dünndarm der APCmin-Mäuse. Hierdurch konnte SePP als neuer wichtiger Modulator der APC-abhängigen Tumorigenese etabliert werden. Interessanterweise genügte bereits der Verlust eines einzelnen SePP-Allels, um mehr, größere und weniger differenzierte Adenome im Dünndarm entstehen zu lassen. Diese Beobachtung deutet auf einen entscheidenden Gen-Dosis-Effekt von SePP für die intestinale Tumorigenese hin und könnte damit als weiteres sinnvolles Kriterium zur Feindiagnostik von Darmkrebs dienen. Die molekularbiologischen Untersuchungen der Tumore lassen eine Aktivierung von Zellzyklus-, Angiogenese- und Akutphaseprozessen vermuten. Hierdurch und über die erhöhte Produktion von Wachstumsfaktoren kann die vermehrte Tumorigenese bei SePP-Mangel erklärt werden. Weitergehend konnte auch der Darm, ungeachtet seiner primären Rolle bei der Selenaufnahme, als abhängig von einer regulären SePP-Expression erkannt werden. Somit stellt sich SePP als zentraler Vermittler des Selenmetabolismus dar, und könnte auf lange Sicht als funktioneller Biomarker des Selenstatus für die individuelle Risikoabschätzung etabliert werden. / Selenium (Se) is the only trace element which is encoded in the genome as the 21st proteinogenic amino acid selenocystein (Sec). Se is essential for the catalytic activity of the small group of Sec-containing selenoproteins. The biosynthesis of this group of extraordinary proteins is characterized by several specialities, e.g. the distribution of Se differs between the organs giving rise to a hierarchical biosynthesis of the selenoproteins and there is an intracellular hierarchy of selenoprotein biosynthesis in times of Se depletion. One particular selenoprotein is of central importance for the organification and trafficking of Se within the organism, i.e., Selenoprotein P (SePP). From transcriptome analyses it was deduced that this Se transport protein is markedly reduced in tumours of several origins. The aim of this thesis was to elucidate whether SePP has a causal impact on the tumourigenesis within the intestinal tract. For this purpose, the SePP-KO mouse model with a genetically impaired SePP expression was crossed with the well-established APCmin intestinal tumour model. A stop mutation in the APC tumour suppressor gene causes multiple intestinal neoplasias (Min) in these mice. The combined deletion of SePP caused a sharp increase in tumour incidence in the small intestines of APCmin mice. Interestingly, even the inactivation of only one SePP allele was sufficient to induce more and less well differentiated adenomas in the small intestine. These results indicate that SePP acts as an important modulator of APC dependent tumorigenesis in a gene dose dependent manner. In the long run, SePP might turn out as another valuable biomarker to estimate the individual cancer risk. From a mechanistic point of view, the transcriptome analyses indicate that an impaired SePP expression favors cell cycle progression, angiogenesis and acute phase response. In addition, an elevated production of growth factors in response to SePP deficiency might contribute to the phenotype of bigger and more undifferentiated tumours. Additional analyses of the intestines revealed that the intestinal tract is dependent on a regular SePP expression in order to synthesise its regular set of selenoproteins even so it represents the prime organ of Se absorption. Therefore, SePP represents a central Se transport and storage protein also within the intestinal tract, highlighting its essential role to preserve health and regular Se metabolism.

Les macrophages peuvent transiter entre les états pro et anti-inflammatoires, un processus appelé de polarisation. Les molécules sécrétées par les macrophages sont capables d'induire différents profils métaboliques. Les analyses transcriptomiques de macrophages pro et anti-inflammatoires humains ont identifié nouvelles molécules avec un peptide sécrétoire. Parmi ces candidates, les sélénoprotéines étaient l’une des plus exprimés dans les macrophages anti-inflammatoires. Ainsi, nous évaluons l’impact des sélénoprotéines sur la polarisation des macrophages, secondaires à l’inflammation et leur implication au cours de la régénération musculaire. Une fois établi que les cytokines stimulent les transitions des macrophages, nous avons utilisé IFN-gamma et IL10 pour explorer ces différents profils inflammatoires in vitro. Les macrophages dérivés de la moelle osseuse de WT et de sélénoprotéines KO ont été polarisés avec les deux cytokines pour obtenir un phénotype pro et anti-inflammatoire, respectivement. Nos résultats ont montré que, en absence de sélénoprotéines, les macrophages réduisaient leur capacité à migrer d'un état d'activation à l’autre par rapport au contrôle, soulignant ainsi l'importance de ces molécules pour contrôler les états d’alternance des macrophages. Le modèle de lésion en réponse à la cardiotoxine a été utilisé pour examiner, in vivo, la capacité des macrophages à modifier leur phénotype au cours de la régénération du muscle squelettique. Trois jours après une lésion, la population pro est remplacé par une anti-inflammatoire, comme l'a déjà montré l'analyse par cytométrie en flux. Cependant, les modèles de macrophages pro-inflammatoires sélénoprotéines KO étaient présent trois fois plus nombreux relativement à la population anti-inflammatoire, indiquant que ces macrophages n’ont pas acquis le phénotype anti-inflammatoire. De plus, nous évaluons la fonction des macrophages en absence de sélénoprotéines. Suite à la polarisation avec les cytokines, décrites ci-dessus, les expériences ont démontré que les macrophages anti-inflammatoires WT favorisaient la fusion des myoblastes, alors que les sélénoprotéines KO n'étaient pas en mesure de maintenir cette fusion. En conclusion, les sélénoprotéines modulent la polarisation des macrophages, impliquant leur capacité à acquérir différents phénotypes in vitro et in vivo, ainsi que leurs effets sur la fusion des myoblastes / Macrophages can go through transitions between pro and anti-inflammatory states, one process called polarization skewing. Molecules secreted by macrophages are able to induce different metabolic profiles. Transcriptomic analyses of human pro and anti-inflammatory macrophages identified new molecules with a secretory peptide. Selenoproteins were one of the most expressed in anti-inflammatory macrophages. Thus, we evaluate the respective roles of selenoproteins on macrophage polarization parameters in inflammation and their implication in regenerative processes. Once established that cytokines largely spur macrophage transitions we used IFN-gamma and IL10 to explore these different inflammatory profiles in vitro. Bone marrow derived macrophages from WT and selenoproteins KO models were polarized with both cytokines to obtain a pro and anti-inflammatory phenotype, respectively. Our results showed that without selenoproteins, macrophages had impairment of their capacity to switch from one activation state to another as compared with the control, emphasizing the importance of these molecules to control macrophage transitional states. The cardiotoxin injury model was use to in vivo examine the macrophages capability to switch their phenotype during skeletal muscle regeneration. Three days after an injury pro is replaced by anti-inflammatory population, as has already been shown by flow cytometry analysis. However, macrophages from selenoproteins KO presented three-fold increase of pro-inflammatory macrophages while anti-inflammatory population decreased, indicating that they did not acquire an anti-inflammatory phenotype. In addition, we evaluate the macrophage function in absence of selenoproteins. After polarization with cytokines, experiments demonstrated that WT anti-inflammatory macrophages promoted myoblast fusion, whereas selenoproteins KO were not able to sustain their fusion. In conclusion, selenoproteins modulate macrophage polarization implicating their ability to acquire different phenotypes in vitro and in vivo as well as their effects on myoblast fusion