Associations between methylated metabolites of arsenic and selenium in urine of pregnant bangladeshi women and interactions between the main genes involved

BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that interactions between selenium and arsenic in the body may affect their kinetics and toxicity. However, it is unknown how the elements influence each other in humans. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate potential interactions in the methylation of selenium and arsenic. METHODS: Urinary selenium (U-Se) and arsenic (U-As) were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) in samples collected from pregnant women (n = 226) in rural Bangladesh at gestational weeks (GW) 8, 14, 19, and 30. Urinary concentrations of trimethyl seleno-nium ion (TMSe) were measured by HPLC–vapor generation–ICPMS, as were inorganic arsenic (iAs), methylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Methylation efficiency was assessed based on relative amounts (%) of arsenic and selenium metabolites in urine. Genotyping for the main arsenite and selenium methyltransferases, AS3MT and INMT, was performed using TaqMan probes or Sequenom. RESULTS: Multivariable-adjusted linear regression analyses indicated that %TMSe (at GW8) was positively associated with %MMA (β =1.3, 95% CI: 0.56, 2.0) and U-As, and inversely associated with %DMA and U-Se in producers of TMSe (INMT rs6970396 AG + AA, n = 74), who had a wide range of urinary TMSe (12–42%). Also, %TMSe decreased in parallel to %MMA during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester (−0.58 %TMSe per gestational week). We found a gene–gene interaction for %MMA (p-interaction = 0.076 for haplotype 1). In analysis stratified by INMT genotype, the association between %MMA and both AS3MT haplotypes 1 and 3 was stronger in women with the INMT GG (TMSe nonproducers, 5th–95th percentile: 0.2–2%TMSe) vs. AG + AA genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings for Bangladeshi women suggest a positive association between urinary %MMA and %TMSe. Genes involved in the methylation of selenium and arsenic may interact on associations with urinary %MMA

Bacterial degradation of arsenobetaine via dimethylarsenoylacetate.

The research demonstrates for the first time the capability of pure bacterial isolates to cleave the carbon-arsenic bonds of arsenobetaine, which is fundamentally important for advancing understanding of the formation of toxic forms of arsenic within the GI tract

Selenium metabolism to the trimethylselenonium ion (TMSe) varies markedly because of polymorphisms in the indolethylamine N-methyltransferase gene.

Selenium is an essential element, but its metabolism in humans is not well characterized. A few small studies indicate that the trimethylselenonium ion (TMSe) is a common selenium metabolite in humans

Thiolated Chitosan Conjugated Liposomes for Oral Delivery of Selenium Nanoparticles

This study aimed to design a hybrid oral liposomal delivery system for selenium nanoparticles (Lip-SeNPs) to improve the bioavailability of selenium. Thiolated chitosan, a multifunctional polymer with mucoadhesive properties, was used for surface functionalization of Lip-SeNPs. Selenium nanoparticle (SeNP)-loaded liposomes were manufactured by a single step microfluidics-assisted chemical reduction and assembling process. Subsequently, chitosan-N-acetylcysteine was covalently conjugated to the preformed Lip-SeNPs. The Lip-SeNPs were characterized in terms of composition, morphology, size, zeta potential, lipid organization, loading efficiency and radical scavenging activity. A co-culture system (Caco-2:HT29-MTX) that integrates mucus secreting and enterocyte-like cell types was used as a model of the human intestinal epithelium to determine adsorption, mucus penetration, release and transport properties of Lip-SeNPs in vitro. Thiolated Lip-SeNPs were positively charged with an average size of about 250 nm. Thiolated Lip-SeNPs tightly adhered to the mucus layer without penetrating the enterocytes. This finding was consistent with ex vivo adsorption studies using freshly excised porcine small intestinal tissues. Due to the improved mucoadhesion and retention in a simulated microenvironment of the small intestine, thiolated Lip-SeNPs might be a promising tool for oral selenium delivery

Thiolated Chitosan Conjugated Liposomes for Oral Delivery of Selenium Nanoparticles

This study aimed to design a hybrid oral liposomal delivery system for selenium nanoparticles (Lip-SeNPs) to improve the bioavailability of selenium. Thiolated chitosan, a multifunctional polymer with mucoadhesive properties, was used for surface functionalization of Lip-SeNPs. Selenium nanoparticle (SeNP)-loaded liposomes were manufactured by a single step microfluidics-assisted chemical reduction and assembling process. Subsequently, chitosan-N-acetylcysteine was covalently conjugated to the preformed Lip-SeNPs. The Lip-SeNPs were characterized in terms of composition, morphology, size, zeta potential, lipid organization, loading efficiency and radical scavenging activity. A co-culture system (Caco-2:HT29-MTX) that integrates mucus secreting and enterocyte-like cell types was used as a model of the human intestinal epithelium to determine adsorption, mucus penetration, release and transport properties of Lip-SeNPs in vitro. Thiolated Lip-SeNPs were positively charged with an average size of about 250 nm. Thiolated Lip-SeNPs tightly adhered to the mucus layer without penetrating the enterocytes. This finding was consistent with ex vivo adsorption studies using freshly excised porcine small intestinal tissues. Due to the improved mucoadhesion and retention in a simulated microenvironment of the small intestine, thiolated Lip-SeNPs might be a promising tool for oral selenium delivery