Erythrocyte immune adherence and regulative function of patients and residents in Keshan disease area and its relation to blood selenium levels

Objective: In order to investigate the relationship between erythrocyte immune function and selenium(Se) level. Method: Red blood cell immune adherence(RCIA) function, serum RCIA regulatory factor, blood Se content and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) of residents in Keshan disease(KD) endemic and non-endemic areas were comparatively studied. Forty-eight residents in KD endemic area aged 13∼16 years were divided into 2 groups. The residents in the experimental group were orally given 200μg Se daily as Se yeast for 12 weeks, and their erythrocyte Se content and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), RCIA function, serum RCIA regulatory function and circulating immune complexes(CIC) content were determined. Results: The results showed that the rosette formation rates of erythrocyte C 3bR and blood Se levels of the residents in KD area were significantly lower and the rosette formation inhibitory rate of serum RCIA of the residents in KD area was significantly higher than those in the non-endemic area. Erythrocyte Se contents, GPX activities and rosette formation rates of erythrocyte C 3bR were significantly increased and the rosette formation inhibitory rates of serum RICA were significantly decreased after supplementing Se, but the difference in the contents of serum CIC was not significant. Conclusion: The increase of erythrocyte immune function by Se-supplement might be one of the effective mechanisms in the prevention of KD by Se-supplement.