Pharmaceutics· 2026Q1· Review
Pharmacological Potential of Selenoproteins in the Regulation of Oxidative Stress in Liver Diseases
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Selenoproteins, a diverse family of proteins containing selenium, show significant potential as therapeutic targets for liver diseases by regulating oxidative stress and related cellular processes.
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Key points
- Oxidative stress from ROS/RNS is a key driver of liver cell destruction and disease progression.
- Selenoproteins form a network that protects liver cells through various mechanisms, including free radical scavenging and ferroptosis prevention (e.g., GPX4).
- These proteins also regulate endoplasmic reticulum stress, metabolic changes, and immune responses in the liver.
- Understanding selenoproteins' antioxidant functions offers potential for new drug development against chronic liver diseases.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Background: Pathological activation of oxidative metabolism is a universal catalyst for liver parenchyma destruction. While physiological pools of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) regulate hepatic regeneration and cellular respiration, decompensation of endogenous antioxidant systems induces cascading damage across hepatocytes, sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer macrophages, and hepatic stellate cells. Current therapies against liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma remain suboptimal, necessitating the identification of novel, druggable molecular targets. Focus: This review synthesizes current evidence on ROS-driven necroinflammatory and degenerative cascades and evaluates the multi-level protective potential of the selenoprotein family. Evidence: Selenoproteins function as a highly heterogeneous network where specific members are vital for cell survival (e.g., GPX4 in preventing ferroptosis), while others exhibit stage-dependent expression throughout progression from inflammation to malignancy. Conclusions: In addition to directly scavenging free radicals, selenoproteins modulate endoplasmic reticulum stress, metabolic remodeling, and immune responses. A more complete understanding of the important role of selenoproteins in regulating liver pathological processes, particularly their antioxidant function, allows them to be considered as promising potential targets for the further development of pharmacotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic liver diseases.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Pharmaceutics, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Nutrition and Dietetics
Nutrition and DieteticsNursing