Effect of selenium yeast supplementation on drug metabolism genes, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in chicken liver after diquat induction: A proteomic perspective

Selenium yeast (SeY) is a commonly used beneficial additive in animal feed, but its effectiveness in reducing diquat (DQ)-induced liver damage remains uncertain. This study examined how selenium yeast affects drug-metabolism genes, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in chicken liver using proteomics and validation experiments. Proteomic analysis identified 2,233 differentially expressed proteins, including 786 upregulated and 1,447 downregulated. In the SeY group compared with the diquat group, 197 proteins were upregulated and 327 downregulated. Enrichment analysis indicated that these proteins were mainly involved in ribosome synthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, and steroid biosynthesis. The protein interaction network revealed key roles in regulating ribosome function, antioxidant systems, and apoptosis. Validation by RT-qPCR showed increased levels of antioxidant genes Nrf2 and HO-1, decreased levels of pro-apoptotic genes Caspase 3 and Bax, increased levels of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2, decreased levels of inflammatory gene NF-κB, and increased levels of drug-metabolising genes CYP2C8 and CYP2C9. Oxidative stress marker MDA decreased, while antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPX, and CAT increased. HE staining confirmed SeY's protective effect on liver tissue. Overall, SeY significantly mitigated diquat-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis, upregulated drug-metabolising and antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduced tissue damage. These findings offer valuable insights for the development of future selenium-enriched functional additives.