The relationship between selenoprotein P and glucose metabolism in experimental studies

Nutrients. 2013 May 29;5(6):1937-48. doi: 10.3390/nu5061937.

Abstract

Selenium is an essential trace element in the diet of mammals which is important for many physiological functions. However, a number of epidemiological studies have suggested that high selenium status is a possible risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes, although they cannot distinguish between cause and effect. Selenoprotein P (Sepp1) is central to selenium homeostasis and widely expressed in the organism. Here we review the interaction between Sepp1 and glucose metabolism with an emphasis on experimental evidence. In models with or without gene modification, glucose and insulin can regulate Sepp1 expression in the pancreas and liver, and vice versa. Especially in the liver, Sepp1 is regulated virtually like a gluconeogenic enzyme. Combining these data suggests that there could be a feedback regulation between hepatic Sepp1 and pancreatic insulin and that increasing circulating Sepp1 might be the result rather than the cause of abnormal glucose metabolism. Future studies specifically designed to overexpress Sepp1 are needed in order to provide a more robust link between Sepp1 and type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Gene Deletion
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / analysis
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Pancreas / drug effects
  • Pancreas / metabolism
  • Risk Factors
  • Selenium / administration & dosage
  • Selenium / blood
  • Selenoprotein P / genetics
  • Selenoprotein P / metabolism*

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Selenoprotein P
  • Selenium
  • Glucose