Selenium as a Regulator of Inflammation and Immunity

This chapter discusses the current understanding of the effects of selenium on immunity as well as mechanisms through which selenium exerts its biological effects on the immune system and tissues that drive inflammation. The effects of dietary selenium on inflammation and immunity have mostly been studied in cell culture systems and animal studies, although there have been some limited investigations in humans as well. Selenium metabolites, as well as the different selenoproteins, can have significant effects on macrophage activation, differentiation, and effector functions. Effective antiviral immunity requires effective cell-mediated immunity and in many cases strong neutralizing antibodies produced through the humoral immune response. Selenium deficiency is very likely to have a negative impact on the ability of an individual to fight bacterial or parasitic infections. There is an abundance of evidence in animal models and immune cell culture systems to suggest that marginally low selenium status leads to impaired immune responses.