Infuence of vitamin E on the cellular uptake and transport of selenium from wheat and pearl millet across Caco‑2 cell monolayer.

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the efect of exogenous addition of vitamin E on the cellular uptake and
transport of selenium (Se) across Caco-2 cell monolayer from wheat and pearl millet. Cellular bioavailability of Se was
also determined by evaluating the activity of Se dependent enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin
reductase (TR). Transport and uptake of Se was by passive difusion (transcellular transport), which was time dependent.
Uptake of selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocysteine (SeCys2) by the Caco-2 cells incubated with wheat and pearl mil�let was signifcantly enhanced (p<0.001) in the presence of vitamin E, which, however, was signifcantly decreased by
heat processing (p<0.001). The mRNA expression of the genes encoding the two Se dependant enzymes, GPx and TR was
signifcantly upregulated in wheat and pearl millet respectively, upon the addition of vitamin E. The extent of upregulation
ranged from 80 to 100%.