Abstract: Objective To study the inhibitory effect of T-2 toxin on the expression of aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ in chondrocytes and the protection of selenium against this effect. Methods Human chondrocytes cultured in vitro were treated with T-2 toxin at different concentrations for varied time periods (1-5 days), and the cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Aggrecan expression was detected by toluidine blue staining and collagen Ⅱ expression by immunostaining using monoclonal antibody of collagen. Aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ mRNA expressions were measured by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Results T-2 toxin dose- and time-dependently affected chondrocyte viability within the concentration range of 0.001-2 mg/L, the prolonged treatment time further enhanced the dose dependence of the inhibitory effect. T-2 toxin lowered aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ synthesis in the chondrocytes and reduced their mRNA expressions. Selenium could partly attenuate the inhibitory effects of T-2 toxin on aggrecan mRNA expression, but showed no such effect against T-2-induced collagen Ⅱ expression. Conclusion T-2 toxin can obviously inhibit aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ synthesis in human chondrocytes, and selenium can partly antagonize the inhibitory effects of T-2 toxin on aggrecan.