Selenium protects a specific type of interneurons in the brain

Furthermore, the scientists were able to show that ferroptosis is triggered by oxidative stress, which is known to occur for instance during high metabolic activity of cells and high neuronal activity. In future investigations, study leader Marcus Conrad and his team aim to investigate how ferroptosis is triggered in cells. In further studies, we were able to show that these neurons were lost during postnatal development, when sulfur- instead of selenium-containing GPX4 was present,” stated first author of the study, Irina Ingold. In order to better understand the role of GPX4 in this death process, we established and studied mouse

Key Takeaways:

• A German research center studies the effects of lifestyle, environment, and genetics on human diseases.
• The researchers discovered that cells containing the selenium normally make up a subgroup within all brain cells and that this subgroup was killed off during infancy when selenium was not available to
• In a study on mouse brain cells, the cells which did not have selenium available instead used sulfur which resulted in the death of the mice within 3 weeks.

“Selenium-containing GPX4 protects these specialized neurons from oxidative stress and from ferroptotic cell death.”

Read more: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/hzm–spa122917.php