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Uptake of Selenium-75 by Human Lymphocytes in Vitro¹

Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York 13901

Selenite uptake by human lymphocytes was studied both in whole blood and in isolated cells. When ⁷⁵Se-selenite (⁷⁵Se-SeO₃^2-) is supplied to whole blood, it is converted by the erythrocytes to a form which rapidly becomes bound to plasma proteins. Studies with a variety of inhibitors indicated that the process is not energy dependent but that sulfhydryl groups are required. The ⁷⁵Se bound to plasma proteins is absorbed by lymphocytes in preference to ⁷⁵SeO₃^2-. By the use of selective inhibitors (respiratory, sulfhydryl, protein biosynthetic) it was demonstrated that the uptake of either form of ⁷⁵Se requires neither energy nor protein synthesis; however, all the sulfhydryl inhibitors cause a decrease of absorption. A scheme which summarizes the pathway of selenite conversion in human blood and uptake by lymphocytes is presented; the data indicate that plasma proteins function as carriers of selenium to lymphocytes.

KEY WORDS: • selenite • lymphocytes • plasma proteins

¹ Supported by NIH grant #1R01ES01465-02.

² Current address: Department of Genetics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720.

³ To whom reprint requests should be sent.

Manuscript received 11 January 1979.