PUBLICATION
Selenium Nanoparticles vs Selenite Fertilizers: Implications for Toxicological Profiles, Antioxidant Defense, and Ferroptosis Pathways
- Authors
- Fang, Q., Liu, Z., Wang, K.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-250501-5
- Date
- 2025
- Source
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry : (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- ferroptosis, selenium nanoparticles, sodium selenite, toxicity, transcriptomics
- MeSH Terms
-
- Selenium*/chemistry
- Selenium*/toxicity
- Fertilizers*/analysis
- Fertilizers*/toxicity
- Sodium Selenite*/toxicity
- Antioxidants*/metabolism
- Antioxidants*/toxicity
- Selenious Acid*/toxicity
- Zebrafish/metabolism
- Mice
- Humans
- Ferroptosis*/drug effects
- Animals
- Female
- Nanoparticles*/chemistry
- Nanoparticles*/toxicity
- Liver/drug effects
- Liver/metabolism
- Male
- Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
- PubMed
- 40305856 Full text @ J. Agric. Food Chem.
Citation
Fang, Q., Liu, Z., Wang, K. (2025) Selenium Nanoparticles vs Selenite Fertilizers: Implications for Toxicological Profiles, Antioxidant Defense, and Ferroptosis Pathways. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. :.
Abstract
Selenium (Se) foliar fertilizers enhance crop nutrition and address human selenium deficiency, while improper application may lead to excessive intake and residue accumulation. Our study comprehensively assessed the toxicity and function of novel selenium nanoparticles and traditional sodium selenite fertilizers across cell, zebrafish, and murine models. Both fertilizers enhanced antioxidant pathways at low doses, but selenium nanoparticles exhibited stronger antioxidant and ferroptosis-modulating effects with lower toxicity at a high dose. Sodium selenite increased total and lipid ROS production, leading to decreased viability of cells and increased distortion and mortality of zebrafish. In mice, sodium selenite induced hepatic toxicity and decreased GPX4. Transcriptome analysis revealed that sodium selenite downregulated c-JUN and APOA4, weakening the antioxidant defense, whereas selenium nanoparticles promoted ferroptosis resistance through FGF21. These findings suggest selenium nanoparticles as a safer alternative for Se biofortification, mitigating health risks while supporting food security and environmental sustainability.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping