Abstract: Selenoprotein refers to a kind of proteins that share the common feature of containing the amino acid, selenocysteine. They participate redox reactions in diverse biological metabolisms through the reductive activity of selenium (Se). The human selenoprotein family contains 25 members, however, for some of them, their precise physiological functions remain unknown. Brain is one of the most Se-abundant tissue, the depletion of some individual selenoproteins by gene knockout results in cognitive impairment and motor dysfunction. A large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) could be produced during the metabolisms in brain, and the oxidative stress derived from the ROS is believed to be one of the primary inducements of neurodegenerative disease. Whereas, the clearance of ROS is the prime physiological function of many selenoproteins, therefore the relevance between selenoproteins and neurodegenerative diseases attracts extensive attention these days. Herein, we reviewed the physiological functions of selenoproteins and how they were related to the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, which was expected to provide reference for selenoprotein application in treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Key words: selenoprotein, neurodegenerative disease, oxidative stress, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease

摘要： 硒蛋白是一类含有硒代半胱氨酸的蛋白质，以硒元素为活性中心，利用其强还原性参与多种生物代谢过程中的氧化还原反应。目前在人体中已发现的硒蛋白有25种，其中部分硒蛋白的生理功能尚不明确。脑组织是硒蛋白分布最为丰富的人体器官之一，采用基因敲除的方法研究硒蛋白的生理功能，发现多种硒蛋白缺失都能引起小鼠认知能力损伤或运动功能障碍。由于脑组织代谢过程中会产生大量的活性氧（reactive oxygen species，ROS），其产生的氧化压力被认为是神经退行性疾病产生和发展的重要诱因之一，而清除活性氧是某些硒蛋白的主要生理功能，因此硒蛋白在神经退行性疾病中的作用受到了越来越多的关注。综述了硒蛋白的生理功能，及其与多种神经退行性疾病的联系，以期为硒蛋白在治疗神经退行性疾病中的应用提供参考。

关键词: 硒蛋白, 神经退行性疾病, 氧化应激, 阿尔茨海默症, 帕金森症