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Review
. 2025 Mar;68(3):628-656.
doi: 10.1007/s11427-023-2621-7. Epub 2024 Nov 12.

Selenium metabolism and selenoproteins function in brain and encephalopathy

Nan Li #  1   2 , Zhonghao Zhang #  1 , Liming Shen  1   2 , Guoli Song  1 , Jing Tian  3 , Qiong Liu  4 , Jiazuan Ni  1
Affiliations
Review

Selenium metabolism and selenoproteins function in brain and encephalopathy

Nan Li et al. Sci China Life Sci. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element of the utmost importance to human health. Its deficiency induces various disorders. Se species can be absorbed by organisms and metabolized to hydrogen selenide for the biosynthesis of selenoproteins, selenonucleic acids, or selenosugars. Se in mammals mainly acts as selenoproteins to exert their biological functions. The brain ranks highest in the specific hierarchy of organs to maintain the level of Se and the expression of selenoproteins under the circumstances of Se deficiency. Dyshomeostasis of Se and dysregulation of selenoproteins result in encephalopathy such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. This review provides a summary and discussion of Se metabolism, selenoprotein function, and their roles in modulating brain diseases based on the most currently published literature. It focuses on how Se is utilized and transported to the brain, how selenoproteins are biosynthesized and function physiologically in the brain, and how selenoproteins are involved in neurodegenerative diseases. At the end of this review, the perspectives and problems are outlined regarding Se and selenoproteins in the regulation of encephalopathy.

Keywords: brain; encephalopathy; function; selenium; selenoprotiens.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance and ethics. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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