Indications of selenium protection against cadmium toxicity in cultured K-562 cells

The interaction between selenium and cadmium was studied in relation to cellular uptake and expressions of selenium–cadmium interaction. Human K-562 cells were pre-treated or simultaneously treated with (5 or 50 μM) selenite or (10 or 50 μM) selenomethionine and with (60 or 75 μM) cadmium nitrate. Cells pre or simultaneously treated with selenite revealed increased cadmium concentration with increased doses of selenite, particularly pronounced in the simultaneous treatments. In both treatments, selenium protection was observed during the exposure period, but not during the growth period. In cells simultaneously treated with selenomethionine and 60-μM cadmium, an increase in cadmium concentration was observed after increased selenium dose. In addition, it was found that simultaneous selenomethionine treatment with 60-μM cadmium resulted in selenium protection during the exposure period, although protection was not observed during the growth period.