Se-Methylselenocysteine (hydrochloride) (Synonyms: Methylselenocysteine, Se-MeSeCys, Se-methyl-L-Selenocysteine)

Se-methylselenocysteine (hydrochloride) (MSC), a derivative of selenocysteine methylation, is a natural monomethylated selenoamino acid. Se-methylselenocysteine is used primarily for anti-aging, selenium supplementation, treatment of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases, and antioxidation[1]. Se-Methylselenocysteine is orally bioavailable, and induces apoptosis[2,3].

Se-methylselenocysteine(100-400 µM; 3 days) induces apoptosis through caspase activation and Bax cleavage mediated by calpain in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells[4]. Se-methylselenocysteine (200 µM; 24 h) can effectively reverse the decrease of cell viability caused by EA (elaidic acid)[5]. Se-methylselenocysteine at an optimum concentration of 1 µM could reverse the alteration in antioxidative capacity, Bcl2/Bax ratio and caspase-8 activity caused by clusterin (Clu) -knockdown, thus inhibiting apoptosis and maintaining cell viability[6].

Se-Methylselenocysteine (0.2 mg/mouse; p.o.; daily for 14 days) potentiates the antitumour activity of Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP)) and Cyclophosphamide in nude mice bearing human FaDu and A253 head and neck xenografts[7]. Se-methylselenocysteine (0.3 /1/3 mg/kg;10weeks;p.o.) treatment alleviated the liver injury. With the increase of Se-methylselenocysteine concentration, the degree of liver tissue injury was gradually reduced in mice[8].

References:
[1]. Johnson WD, Morrissey RL, et,al. Subchronic toxicity studies of Se-methylselenocysteine, an organoselenium compound for breast cancer prevention: Food Chem Toxicol, 2008; 46; 1068-78
[2]. El-Bayoumy K, Sinha R, Mechanisms of mammary cancer chemoprevention by organoselenium compounds: Mutat Res, 2004; 551; 181-97
[3]. Medina D, Thompson H, et,al.Se-methylselenocysteine: A new compound for chemoprevention of breast cancer: Nutr Cancer, 2001; 40; 12-17
[4]. Yeo JK, Cha SD, et,al. Se-methylselenocysteine induces apoptosis through caspase activation and Bax cleavage mediated by calpain in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. Cancer Lett. 2002 Aug 8;182(1):83-92. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(02)00075-7. PMID: 12175527.
[5]. Xia J, Xia X, et,al. Protective Effect of Se-Methylselenocysteine on Elaidic Acid-Induced Inflammation in Human Arterial Endothelial Cells. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2020;66(6):577-582. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.66.577. PMID: 33390400.
[6]. Wang C, Zeng Z, et,al. Se-methylselenocysteine inhibits apoptosis induced by clusterin knockdown in neuroblastoma N2a and SH-SY5Y cell lines. Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Nov 18;15(11):21331-47. doi: 10.3390/ijms151121331. PMID: 25411798; PMCID: PMC4264228.
[7]. Cao S, Durrani FA, et,al. Se-methylselenocysteine offers selective protection against toxicity and potentiates the antitumour activity of anticancer drugs in preclinical animal models. Br J Cancer. 2014 Apr 2;110(7):1733-43. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2014.85. Epub 2014 Mar 11. PMID: 24619073; PMCID: PMC3974093.
[8]. Ding J, Qi C, et,al. Se-Methylselenocysteine Alleviates Liver Injury in Diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Rat Model by Reducing Liver Enzymes, Inhibiting Angiogenesis, and Suppressing Nitric Oxide (NO)/Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) Signaling Pathway. Med Sci Monit. 2021 Aug 4;27:e929255. doi: 10.12659/MSM.929255. PMID: 34344856; PMCID: PMC8351367.