2. Academic Validation
  3. Selenoprotein W modulates tau homeostasis in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model

Selenoprotein W modulates tau homeostasis in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model

  • Commun Biol. 2024 Jul 17;7(1):872. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06572-0.
Bingyu Ren 1 2,  Jiaxin Situ 2,  Xuelian Huang 2,  Qiulong Tan 2,  Shifeng Xiao 2,  Nan Li 2 3,  Jing Tian 2,  Xiubo Du 2 3,  Jiazuan Ni 2,  Qiong Liu 4 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China.
  • 2 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.
  • 3 Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.
  • 4 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China. liuqiong@szu.edu.cn.
  • 5 Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China. liuqiong@szu.edu.cn.
PMID: 39020075 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06572-0
Abstract

Lower selenium levels are observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, while supplementation shows multiple benefits. Selenoprotein W (SELENOW) is sensitive to selenium changes and binds to tau, reducing tau accumulation. However, whether restoration of SELENOW has any protective effect in AD models and its underlying mechanism remain unknown. Here, we confirm the association between SELENOW downregulation and tau pathology, revealing SELENOW's role in promoting tau degradation through the ubiquitin‒proteasome system. SELENOW competes with HSP70 to interact with tau, promoting its ubiquitination and inhibiting tau acetylation at K281. SELENOW deficiency leads to synaptic defects, tau dysregulation and impaired long-term potentiation, resulting in memory deficits in mice. Conversely, SELENOW overexpression in the triple transgenic AD mice ameliorates memory impairment and tau-related pathologies, featuring decreased 4-repeat tau isoform, phosphorylation at Ser396 and Ser404, neurofibrillary tangles and neuroinflammation. Thus, SELENOW contributes to the regulation of tau homeostasis and synaptic maintenance, implicating its potential role in AD.

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