Protective effects of Se-containing protein hydrolysates from Se-enriched rice against Pb2+-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 and RAW264.7 cells

The protective capacity of Se-containing protein hydrolysates with molecular weight below 1 kDa (SPHs-3), against Pb2+-induced damage in PC12 and RAW264.7 cells, was investigated in this study. The cell viability, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in cell were analyzed. Results showed that 100 μg/ml of SPHs-3 pretreatment could significantly increase cell viability by 24.9% and 23.0% in Pb2+-treated PC12 and RAW264.7 cells, respectively (P < 0.01). The levels of ROS, NO, LDH and MDA were reduced by 32.2%, 68.2%, 79.7% and 73.7% in 100 μg/ml SPHs-3 pretreated PC12 cells, respectively (P < 0.01). SPHs-3 pretreatment was also associated with increases of SOD activity and GSH content in cells. In conclusion, SPHs-3 could protect cells against Pb2+-induced cytotoxicity, suggesting that Se-enriched rice may be a feasible candidate to improve health standard of the Pb2+-pollution population.