HLA-DPB1 and HLA Class I Confer Risk of and Protection from Narcolepsy

Correction: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS Volume: 96 Issue: 5 Pages: 852-852 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.04.001 Published:MAY 7 2015Peer reviewe

Selenium status is positively associated with bone mineral density in healthy aging European men

Objective It is still a matter of debate if subtle changes in selenium (Se) status affect thyroid function tests (TFTs) and bone mineral density (BMD). This is particularly relevant for the elderly, whose nutritional status is more vulnerable. Design and Methods We investigated Se status in a cohort of 387 healthy elderly men (median age 77 yrs; inter quartile range 75-80 yrs) in relation to TFTs and BMD. Se status was determined by measuring both plasma selenoprotein P (SePP) and Se. Results The overall Se status in our population was low normal with only 0.5% (2/387) of subjects meeting the criteria for Se deficiency. SePP and Se levels were not associated with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) or reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) levels. The T3/T4 and T3/rT3 ratios, reflecting peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormone, were not associated with Se status either. SePP and Se were positively associated with total BMD and femoral trochanter BMD. Se, but not SePP, was positively associated with femoral neck and ward's BMD. Multivariate linear analyses showed that these associations remain statistically significant in a model including TSH, FT4, body mass index, physical performance score, age, smoking, diabetes mellitus and number of medication use. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that Se status, within the normal European marginally supplied range, is positively associated with BMD in healthy aging men, independent of thyroid function. Thyroid function tests appear unaffected by Se status in this population

Relevance and regulation of Selenoprotein P in inflammatory diseases

In der vorliegenden Arbeit beschäftige ich mich mit der Hypothese, dass das im Plasma zirkulierende Selenoprotein P (SEPP) entzündungsabhängig reguliert wird und einen geeigneten Biomarker für inflammatorische Erkrankungen darstellt. Zu diesem Zweck wurde eine neue Analysemethode für dieses Protein entwickelt, entsprechende Versuche in Zellkultur und mit Versuchstieren durchgeführt und schließlich auch humane Proben von Sepsispatienten und gesunden Kontrollen analysiert. Zusammengenommen bestätigen die hierbei gewonnenen Ergebnisse die obige Hypothese und belegen überdies, dass SEPP1 nicht nur einen Biomarker des Selenstatus darstellt, sondern über seine Funktion als Transportprotein auch entscheidend den Selenmetabolismus und dadurch die Akutphase-Reaktion mitbestimmt. Das Spurenelement Selen kommt in seiner aktiven Form als Selenocystein (Sec) in bisher 25 beschriebenen humanen Selenoproteinen vor und spielt eine essentielle Rolle bei wichtigen Stoffwechselprozessen. In dieser Arbeit stelle ich die Ergebnisse meiner Forschung vor, die den Zusammenhang zwischen SEPP1- bzw. Selenkonzentration und Gesundheitszustand bzw. Krankheitsverlauf beschreiben.Selenoprotein P (SEPP) is a circulating plasma protein. In my dissertation, I hypothesise that SEPP biosynthesis is regulated by inflammatory processes and that the protein therefore is a suitable biomarker for inflammatory diseases. To this end, we developed a new analysis method for SEPP and subsequently carried out the appropriate experiments in cell culture as well as in animal models and eventually analysed human samples of sepsis patients as well as of healthy controls. All in all, our results verify my hypothesis that SEPP may serve as a biomarker for the selenium status of an individual. We were also able to demonstrate that SEPP as a transport protein plays a crucial role in selenium metabolism and during the acute phase response. Selenium is an essential trace element that is incorporated in selenoproteins as selenocysteine (Sec). Selenoproteins play a crucial role in important metabolic processes. So far, 25 genes for human selenoproteins have been described. In this paper, I present the results of my research and describe the relationship between selenium concentration, SEPP concentration and health condition and disease

Selenite supplementation in euthyroid subjects with thyroid peroxidase antibodies

Euthyroid thyroid peroxidase (TPO-Ab)-positive subjects are at risk for progression to subclinical and overt autoimmune hypothyroidism. Previous studies have shown a decrease in TPO-Ab and improvement of quality-of-life (QoL) in L-T4-treated hypothyroid patients upon selenium supplementation. To evaluate in euthyroid TPO-Ab-positive women without thyroid medication whether selenite decreases TPO-Ab and improves QoL. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Euthyroid (TSH 0·5-5·0 mU/l, FT4 10-23 pm) women with TPO-Ab ≥ 100 kU/l were randomized to receive 200 mcg sodium selenite daily (n = 30) or placebo (n = 31) for 6 months. TSH, FT4, TPO-Ab, selenium (Se), selenoprotein P (SePP) and QoL were measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 9 months. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the Se group and the placebo group. During selenite supplementation, serum Se and SePP did not change in the placebo group, but increased in the Se group. TPO-Ab and TSH did not change significantly in any group. TPO-Ab in the Se group were 895 (130-6800) at baseline, 1360 (60-7050) kU/l at 6 months, in the placebo group 1090 (120-9200) and 1130 (80-9900) kU/l, respectively (median values with range). TSH in the Se group was 2·1 (0·5-4·3) at baseline, 1·7 (0·0-5·3) mU/l at 6 months, in the placebo group 2·4 (0·7-4·4) and 2·5 (0·2-4·3) mU/l, respectively. QoL was not different between the groups. Six months selenite supplementation increased markers of selenium status but had no effect on serum TPO-Ab, TSH or quality-of-life in euthyroid TPO-Ab-positive wome

Huntingtin aggregation monitored by dynamic light scattering

An initial stage of fibrillogenesis in solutions of glutathione S-transferase-huntingtin (GST-HD) fusion proteins has been studied by using dynamic light scattering. Two GST-HD systems with poly-l-glutamine (polyGln) extensions of different lengths (20 and 51 residues) have been examined. For both systems, kinetics of z-average translation diffusion coefficients (D(app)) and their angular dependence have been obtained. Our data reveal that aggregation does occur in both GST-HD51 and GST-HD20 solutions, but that it is much more pronounced in the former. Thus, our approach provides a powerful tool for the quantitative assay of GST-HD fibrillogenesis in vitro

Selenium status and association with bone mineral density.

<p>Selenium status and association with bone mineral density.</p

Associations between selenium status and thyroid function tests.

<p>Associations between selenium status and thyroid function tests.</p