Individuals exposed to fibrogenic
mineral dust may exhibit an impaired
antioxidant system and produce high levels of reactive
oxygen and
nitrogen species through immune cells, contributing to the perturbation of immune cell function,
inflammation,
fibrosis and
lung cancer. The
lung diseases which are caused by inhalation of fibrogenic
mineral dust, known as
pneumoconioses, develop progressively and irreversibly over decades. At the moment there is no known cure. The
trace element selenium has potent
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties mediated mainly through
selenoproteins. Research has demonstrated that
selenium has the ability to protect against
cardiovascular diseases; to kill
cancer cells in vitro and reduce
cancer incidence; and to immunomodulate various cellular signaling pathways. For these reasons,
selenium has been proposed as a promising therapeutic agent in oxidative stress associated pathology that in theory would be beneficial for the prevention or treatment of
pneumoconioses such as
silicosis,
asbestosis, and
coal worker's pneumoconiosis. However, studies regarding
selenium and occupational
lung diseases are rare. The purpose of this study is to conduct a mini-review regarding the relationship between
selenium and exposure to fibrogenic
mineral dust with emphasis on epidemiological studies. We carried out a systematic literature search of English published studies on
selenium and exposure to fibrogenic
mineral dust. We found four epidemiological studies. Reviewed studies show that
selenium is lower in individuals exposed to fibrogenic
mineral dust. However, three out of the four reviewed studies could not confirm cause-and-effect relationships between low
selenium status and exposure to fibrogenic
mineral dust. This mini-review underscores the need for large follow-up and mechanistic studies for
selenium to further elucidate its
therapeutic effects.