Biological functions of selenium and its potential influence on Parkinson ’ s disease

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons, mainly in the substantia nigra, and causes serious locomotor dysfunctions. It is likely that the oxidative damage to cellular biomolecules is among the leading causes of neurodegeneration that occurs in the disease. Selenium is an essential mineral for proper functioning of the brain, and mainly due to its antioxidant activity, it is possible to exert a special role in the prevention and in the nutritional management of Parkinson’s disease. Currently, few researchers have investigated the effects of selenium on Parkinson ́s disease. However, it is known that very high or very low body levels of selenium can (possibly) contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, because this imbalance results in increased levels of oxidative stress. Therefore, the aim of this work is to review and discuss studies that have addressed these topics and to finally associate the information obtained from them so that these data and associations serve as input to new research.


INTRODUCTION
The influence of diet on the prevention, etiology and treatment of various diseases is well established, as exemplified by several recent studies (Barnard et al. 2014, Chiva-Blanch et al. 2014, Elenberg and Shaoul 2014, Kondo et al. 2014, Squitti et al. 2014).Among the nutrients obtained from the diet, it is known that selenium (Se) is important for healthy human metabolism and that it is involved in the pathophysiology of many diseases, such as cancer, type-2 diabetes, viral diseases, cardiovascular disease, muscle disorders, male infertility, and neurological disorders, among others (Rayman 2012, Hatfield et al. 2014, Roman et al. 2014).Little is known about the role of Se in pathologies that affect the central nervous system.However, Se has important antioxidant functions (Maldonado et al. 2012, Liu et al. 2013, Li et al. 2014) and neuroprotective actions (Lu et al. 2014, Naziroğlu et al. 2014, Şenol et al. 2014, Yang et al. 2014).Therefore, Se in imbalance levels could be significantly involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases.
One of the most common neurodegenerative disorders in the population worldwide is Parkinson's disease (PD), which primarily affects the elderly (Pringsheim et al. 2014).The factors that contribute to a delay or acceleration of the progression of PD are not completely established.Evidence has shown that cellular oxidative damage is one of the major possible causes of PD (Seet et al. 2010, Dias et al. 2013, Hwang 2013, LeWitt et al. 2013, Gaki and Papavassiliou 2014).
Considering that Se has antioxidant activity and oxidative damages are most likely involved in the pathogenesis of PD, studying the role of the mineral on this disease is a promising direction, especially because an association between Se and PD has been poorly investigated.Therefore, the aim of this work is to investigate and discuss the possible effects of Se on PD based on experimental and theoretical studies.Thus, according to relevancy, review and hypothesis articles were also used in this study.In the first part of this review, we present the roles of Se in the maintenance of human health and in nervous system homeostasis, as well as a brief discussion regarding the appropriate levels of Se that should be consumed to maintain human health.The second part describes the pathophysiology and biomarkers of PD, their relationships with oxidative stress, and the roles of diet and specific micronutrients in the disease.Finally, in the third part of this review, the potential influence of Se on PD is discussed, with an emphasis on the role of Se in the locomotor system and brain dysfunction.

SELENIUM
In 1817, Se was discovered by Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius (Boyd 2011), and currently, it is known that Se is a trace element that is indispensable for the maintenance of human health and affects body metabolism in normal and pathological situations (Rayman 2012).However, many aspects of Se still need to be clarified, including the optimal levels of Se that should be consumed to achieve its beneficial effects and avoid the detrimental effects, as well as the role of this nutrient in the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as PD.These topics will be covered in the following section.

dietary SourceS and nutritional recommendationS
Se is an essential nutrient, and the human diet is a natural source for obtaining it in relevant amounts.The dietary sources of Se are quite diverse, including meat, milk, eggs and vegetables (Lemire et al. 2010).The amount of Se present in most vegetables depends on the amount of the mineral present in the soil in which the plant was cultivated.Therefore, plants grown in soils rich in Se have high mineral levels, whereas the opposite is also true (Combs 2001, Mehdi et al. 2013).It was recently demonstrated that in monsoonal China, precipitation has an important effect on the distribution of Se in soil (Blazina et al. 2014).This fact demonstrates that populations living in specific regions of the world are susceptible to high or low consumption of Se, and the amounts vary according to environmental conditions that modify the mineral content of the soil where they live.This influence is greatest where the importation of food from various locations is lower, because it makes the consumption of local foods greater, to the detriment of food from various geographical and environmental origins.
Among the foods considered as sources of Se, the Brazil nut is rich in this nutrient.According to Cominetti et al. (2012), a single Brazil nut may have up to 290 μg of Se (about 5-fold the daily dietary requirement).Therefore, this food can be used to increase levels of this mineral in the blood (Stockler-Pinto et al. 2010).This information is clinically important because it demonstrates that the inclusion of controlled amounts of Brazil nuts in the diet can be a way to supplement the mineral in patients with specific needs of Se.Thus, the use of non-food supplements of this mineral is not required.However, it is important to mention that in Brazil, the Brazil nut is not widespread in the food culture of all regions of the country.Additionally, the Brazil nut is an expensive product, which becomes an obstacle for people wishing to acquire it.
The recommendations for daily Se intake are relatively easy to be achieved through a balanced diet according to the gender and age of each individual.For adult men and women, 55 μg of Se/ day is considered the ideal amount to be consumed.This recommendation remains unchanged for the elderly people and is lower for children.Quantities greater than 400 μg of Se/day (recommendation for adults) are not indicated by threatening intoxication (IOM 2000).Cases of Se poisoning are not common but can cause signs such as hair and body hair alterations, nails and skin abnormalities, garlic breath (Stockler-Pinto et al. 2010), lethargy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Vinceti et al. 2014).
In addition to food sources of Se to increase body levels of the mineral, other factors must be considered, such as the bioavailability of the nutrient.The bioavailability of Se will depend on various factors, such as the mineral absorption rate that varies according to the type of food consumed and the interaction with other nutrients (Navarro-Alarcon and Cabrera-Vique 2008, Gad and Abd El-Twab 2009, Thiry et al. 2013).The organic forms of Se are more bioavailable than inorganic Se (Daniels 1996, Rayman et al. 2008).Therefore, in individuals requiring the supplementation of the mineral, using Se supplementation in organic form (for example: wheat Se, selenomethionine or high-Se-yeast) seems to be more advantageous than using supplements containing Se in inorganic form (selenate or selenite) (Rayman et al. 2008).Furthermore, there is evidence that Se consumed through food is better absorbed than Se from mineral supplements.Approximately 80% of dietary Se can be absorbed, which varies according to the type of food source of the mineral (Navarro-Alarcon and Cabrera-Vique 2008).An in vitro study using three types of supplements of Se (Se-enriched yeast, selenate-based food supplement and selenite-based food supplement) showed that 14% (from selenate supplement) was the highest rate of bioavailability achieved (Thiry et al. 2013).Notwithstanding, the bioavailability of Se either via food or via supplements deserves further studies.

biological roleS of Selenium
Se deficiency has been associated with some diseases such as Keshan disease (a cardiomyopathy that affects people living in regions with soil poor in Se) (Loscalzo 2014).Se deficiencies are also related to genomic instability (Arigony et al. 2013).Additionally, Se is able to perform epigenetic changes through DNA methylation and histone modifications (Speckmann and Grune 2015).Complex pathological situations such as infection by human immunodeficiency virus (Ellwanger et al. 2011, Sudfeld et al. 2014) and cancer (Yakubov et al. 2014) also appear to be influenced by body levels of Se.In this context, the antioxidant function of Se (Maldonado et al. 2012, Arigony et al. 2013, Liu et al. 2013, Li et al. 2014) involves protecting from and slowing the development of diseases that involve oxidative damage to cellular components.
The biological activity attributed to Se is exercised through selenoproteins, which are proteins that have a selenocysteine residue in the active site (Hatfield et al. 2014).The selenoproteins play varied and important activities in the body, such as selenium transport (Burk and Hill 2009), endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis (Shchedrina et al. 2011), immunomodulation, regulation of apoptosis (Roman et al. 2014), and control of the cellular redox state (Arigony et al. 2013).There are currently twenty-five selenoproteins identified in humans, which include Selenoprotein P (SelP), Selenoprotein W (SelW), Selenoprotein H (SelH), Selenoprotein M (SelM), Selenoprotein R (SelR), JOEL H. ELLWANGER, SILVIA I.R. FRANKE, DIANA L. BORDIN, DANIEL PRÁ and JOÃO A.P. HENRIQUES Selenoprotein N (SelN), Selenoprotein S (SelS) and the selenoproteins from the families of Iodothyronine deiodinase (DIOs), Thioredoxin reductase (TrxRs) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPxs).All are involved in metabolic functions to prevent and/or combat diseases (Roman et al. 2014).Although all these selenoproteins have an important role in cellular homeostasis, the families of antioxidant enzymes should be highlighted.The family of GPxs should be particularly focused because the inappropriate activity of GPxs has been reported as a factor that strongly correlates with the nutritional deficiency of Se, which contributes to oxidative stress and therefore the emergence of diseases, including neuronal disorders (Mehdi et al. 2013, Pillai et al. 2014).Among the eight enzymes described in this family, five (GPx1, GPx2, GPx3, GPx4 and GPx6) are selenoproteins, and they are involved in the detoxification of hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides, among other types of reactive species.In these reactions, the tripeptide GSH is used as a reducing agent (Lei et al. 2007, Brigelius-Flohé and Maiorino 2013, Smeyne and Smeyne 2013).It is important to mention that in the GPxs family, GPx5, GPx7 and GPx8 are non-Se congeners (Brigelius-Flohé and Maiorino 2013).A brief demonstration of the activity of Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase is shown in Figure 1.
The action of selenoproteins is related to diet.Se ingested through food is incorporated into selenoproteins, and the activity of these proteins depends on the levels of Se ingested (Weeks et al. 2012, Zhang et al. 2013).This information suggests that quantities of Se ingested through food can influence the activity of glutathione peroxidase, in addition to blood levels of the mineral (Cominetti et al. 2012, Giacosa et al. 2014).If the level of Se in the body is low, the cells cannot synthesize selenoproteins properly (Ferguson et al. 2012).If the activity level of selenoproteins with antioxidant action is sufficient to combat the level of oxidizing agents generated by the body or by the envi- ronment, the oxidative stress is avoided.However, if there is an imbalance between the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the levels of oxidizing agents, oxidative stress will occur, which will result in damage to cellular biomolecules (Othman and El Missiry 1998, Brenneisen et al. 2005, Rahmanto and Davies 2012, Song et al. 2014, Yakubov et al. 2014).These events are schematically summarized in Figure 2. Therefore, it is important to mention that individuals who are exposed to environmental stimuli or have lifestyles that exacerbate oxidative stress should be aware of Se dietary recommendations, and this information must be a prominent topic in dietary planning for these individuals (Thomson 2004).To date, there is no specific dietary requirement defined for individuals with high oxidative stress levels, and future studies are need to set such levels.

BALANCE ANTIOXIDANTS PROTEINS
OXIDANT AGENTS

IMBALANCE ANTIOXIDANTS PROTEINS
OXIDANT AGENTS

Se from diet in high amounts
Figure Se is also essential for proper brain function (Schweizer et al. 2004, Cardoso et al. 2015).Several studies have demonstrated that this mineral influences various pathologies affecting the central nervous system.In elderly patients, low levels of Se in plasma are related to a reduction in neurological activity, such as coordination (Shahar et al. 2010).
Se may also influence behavioral development (Watanabe and Satoh 1994) and psychological aspects, such as mood (Benton 2002) and cognition (Steinbrenner and Sies 2013).Se in the form of organic compounds could act as an antipsychotic (Machado et al. 2006).
In addition to influencing the functioning of the brain and various diseases of the central nervous system, Se has neuroprotective effects demonstrated by several experimental approaches (Lu et al. 2014, Naziroğlu et al. 2014, Şenol et al. 2014, Yang et al. 2014).This information supports the concept that Se has a key role in the development and/or progression of neurodegenerative diseases, acting as a neuroprotective agent.However, considering the complexity of these diseases and the various influences that Se can play, the mechanisms by which this mineral acts in these diseases still need to be investigated.More studies are also needed to understand the specific roles of selenoproteins and the effects of Se intake on neurodegenerative diseases (Steinbrenner and Sies 2013).Therefore, a better understanding of the role of Se in the pathogenic mechanisms of PD is important.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE
PD was first described by James Parkinson in 1917 (for historical aspects of the disease, see the review published by Goetz ( 2011)).Currently, PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world, and Alzheimer's disease is the most frequent (De Lau and Breteler 2006).PD primarily affects the elderly, occurring in approximately 1% of the population over 60 years (Nussbaum andEllis 2003, De Lau andBreteler 2006) but can also occur less frequently in younger individuals (Lees et al. 2009al. , Mehanna et al. 2014)).
Geographically, the distribution of the disease in the world slightly varies.A recent study reported that among individuals aged between 70 and 79 years, PD is more prevalent in Australia and countries of Europe and North America compared with individuals from Asia (Pringsheim et al. 2014).Differences among sexes were also observed.The prevalence and health impact of PD is higher in men (Lubomski et al. 2014).In addition to physical and psychological harm caused to patients, PD has a great economic impact due to the high medical costs of preventing and combating the disease and loss of workforce.Approximately 14 billion dollars were spent combating it in the United States of America alone in 2010 (Kowal et al. 2013).
PD neuropathology is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons that communicate to the substantia nigra pars compacta of the midbrain to the striatum and affect neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway.The cells linking the substantia nigra to the putamen are the most affected.The presence of cytoplasmic inclusions known as Lewy Bodies are also part of PD neuropathology (Dauer and Przedborski 2003, Lees et al. 2009, Dickson 2012).Other brain structures may also be affected in the disease.For example, evidence obtained by neuroimaging exams indicate that the cerebellum of patients suffering from PD is hyperactive (Yu et al. 2007), but the role of the cerebellum and other structures in this disease is still poorly understood and should be further studied.Because there are no specific laboratory tests to diagnose the disease, the search for biomarkers for the presence of PD is extremely important, and several markers related to oxidative stress have been suggested to be diagnostic of PD.LeWitt et al. (2013) reported that the 3-Hydroxykynurenine from cerebrospinal fluid might be useful for this purpose.The oxidized DJ-1 protein has also been suggested as a potential biomarker for PD (Saito 2014).Kouti et al. (2013) demonstrated the potential for the use of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite levels as biomarkers to monitor the progression of the disease.Additionally, in a recent study, Ide et al. (2015) noted that the levels of vitamin C in lymphocytes could be used to monitor the progression of PD.In seeking biomarkers, it is important to remember that determining the susceptibility genes for PD will help discover which molecules serve as potential biomarkers for disease (Labbé and Ross 2014).Although genetic factors are very important in the pathogenesis of PD, it is believed that the interaction between genetic and environmental factors determines whether the disease develops (Chai and Lim 2013, Searles Nielsen et al. 2013, Smeyne and Smeyne 2013, Pringsheim et al. 2014).It is known, for example, that occupational and environmental exposure to pesticides (such as paraquat and rotenone) can trigger PD (McCormack et al. 2002, Tanner et al. 2011, Wang et al. 2011, Kamel 2013, Baltazar et al. 2014).This factor exemplifies how environmental factors associated with oxidative stress should not be overlooked in investigating the causes of PD and should be considered together with the genetic characteristics of each individual.However, the interactions between these two factors are not well established.
Oxidative stress seems to be crucial for PD development (Dias et al. 2013, Hwang 2013, LeWitt et al. 2013, Gaki and Papavassiliou 2014, Kirbas et al. 2014).Additionally, DNA damage (Giovannelli et al. 2003), deficiency in the repair of these damages (Jeppesen et al. 2011, Canugovi et al. 2013), lipid peroxidation (Sanders and Greenamyre 2013) and mitochondrial dysfunction (Yan et al. 2013) are other important events in the physiopathology of PD.Neuroinflammation also appears to have an involvement in the etiology (Niranjan 2014) and progression of this disease (Taylor et al. 2013).
Biomarkers indicated that oxidative damage is increased in patients suffering from PD, reinforcing the relationship between this injury and the disease (Seet et al. 2010).A treatment against the oxidative stress in PD is still not established, but to be effective, this molecular insult should be a target of treatment in the early stages of the disease (Celardo et al. 2014).However, it is interesting to note there is doubt whether oxidative stress is a cause or a consequence of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in PD (Sanders and Greenamyre 2013), so further studies on this aspect should be conducted.As cited by Tsang and Chung (2009), a detailed understanding of how oxidative stress influences the pathophysiology of PD will help develop better strategies to treat the disease.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is another important molecular event associated with PD (Yan et al. 2013).More specifically, oxidative stress related to the impairment of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and mitochondrial DNA mutations are mentioned as causal factors of the disease (Subramaniam and Chesselet 2013).Müller et al. ( 2013) demonstrated a relationship between the presence of Lewy bodies and mitochondrial DNA damage.In this context, the results of the study conducted by Sanders et al. (2014) support the use of mitochondrial DNA damage as a biomarker for the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons in PD.However, this aspect should be better characterized, and further studies investigating the role of mitochondria in PD are needed.
New insights into the pathophysiology of the PD have been described.Recently, Janda et al. ( 2012) and Zhang et al. (2015) have discussed the association between defects in the process of autophagy and PD.Wen et al. (2014) reported the involvement of proteins that induce cell cycle reentry (CDK5/RKIP/ERK pathway) causing neuronal death in PD.Brenner (2014) hypothesized that the deterioration of melanin in the cells of the substantia nigra may be possible involved in the development and progression of PD.The relationship between PD and nucleolar stress has also been discussed (Parlato and Liss 2014).The suggestions of the involvement of all these molecular processes in PD leads to further discussion on the causes and factors that are involved in disease progression, and therefore, possible new therapeutic targets are hitherto unimagined.However, more experimental investigations using robust methodology are needed to support these new findings.
The dopamine replacement by using Levodopa has been widely used for three decades in the treatment of PD (Dexter and Jenner 2013).Levodopa reduces lymphocyte DNA damage in these individuals (Cornetta et al. 2009).However, it is important to highlight that despite the existence of treatment, currently there is still no cure for the disease (Dexter and Jenner 2013).
Although dopamine can act as an antioxidant (Yen and Hsieh 1997), there is evidence that this neurotransmitter contributes to the generation of neuronal toxicity.In dopaminergic cells, normal dopamine metabolism involving the tyrosine hydroxylase enzyme is responsible for producing oxygen radicals that damage biomolecule cells (Adams Jr et al. 2001).This fact helps to explain the high oxidative stress generated in the dopaminergic neurons.

diet, micronutrientS and tHe Prevention of ParkinSon´S diSeaSe
In elderly patients, the relationship between oxidative stress and nutritional status has been well established (Moreira et al. 2014), but the influence of nutrition, specifically in PD, has been poorly explored.It is likely that an imbalance in the consumption of macronutrients seems to be a predisposing factor for the disease, and it has been reported in a meta-analysis conducted by Chen et al. (2014) that overweight is a possible risk factor of PD.In this context, it was suggested that in men, the consumption of milk and cheese could increase the risk for development of PD, although these data still need to be confirmed by future studies using strong methodologies (Jiang et al. 2014).Kamel et al. (2014) showed that high consumption of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) associated with low consumption of saturated fats could help reduce the risk for developing PD.The authors described that a diet poor in PUFAs or with high amounts of saturated fat might increase the susceptibility to neurotoxic agents associated with the pathogenesis of PD.However, Dong et al. (2014) reported a positive association between n-6 PUFAs intake and the risk for developing PD, but this is a weak association that needs to be confirmed in future studies.The same authors cited that n-3 PUFAs have anti-inflammatory effects and n-6 PUFAs have pro-inflammatory effects.This information could justify the results from these two studies, but the relationship between PUFAs and PD cannot be fully understood and deserves to be studied in detail.
The intake of micronutrients could also be a factor influencing the pathophysiology of the disease.Recently, Stelmashook et al. (2014) described that the imbalance of copper and zinc can influence the mechanisms of pathogenesis of PD.High intake of non-heme iron associated with low vitamin C intake may represent a higher risk for PD (Logroscino et al. 2008).Some authors report a beneficial use of the micronutrients in PD.The administration of folates and vitamins B6 and B12 could be used in a supplemental way and associated with the conventional treatment JOEL H. ELLWANGER, SILVIA I.R. FRANKE, DIANA L. BORDIN, DANIEL PRÁ and JOÃO A.P. HENRIQUES to delay the progression of the disease and/or improve the quality of life of the patients with PD (Dorszewska et al. 2014).The use of these nutrients could contribute to healthy nutritional status of patients and would help in combating the molecular events that lead to disease, but these supplementation strategies using various nutrients should be clinically investigated and elaborated very carefully.Additionally, vitamin D could have a neuroprotective effect, influencing the symptoms and possibly the development and progression of the disease (Peterson 2014).The influence of food and specific micronutrients in PD is still unclear.These results reinforce the idea that the relationship between nutrition and PD is complex and requires more studies in people to clarify these aspects.However, the food and nutrition management in patients suffering from PD is very important so that they can achieve or maintain a healthy nutritional status.This goal will ensure adequate intake of micronutrients (especially those antioxidants as Se), preserving other aspects of health that will allow people to lead a healthy, normal life.

THE INFLUENCE OF SELENIUM ON PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Recently, our research group experimentally investigated the role of Se in an experimental model of PD in rats and induced by the herbicide paraquat (Ellwanger et al. 2015).This work has helped to test the hypothesis that Se could aid in preventing PD if used previously to the emergence of disease or perhaps on patients suffering from early stages of PD.This hypothesis was initially presented in a work published by Cadet in the 1980s (Cadet 1986), who proposed the use of Se associated with vitamin E. To the best of our knowledge, this type of supplementation had not been investigated (Se alone or Se plus vitamin E in paraquat-induced models).Our findings indicated that Se protected against bradykinesia (locomotor damage) and DNA damage in lymphocytes of rats in the tested animal model of PD induced by paraquat.A study performed by Khan (2010) in an animal model of PD in mice demonstrated that Se also reversed, at least partially, the toxic effects (dopamine depletion) caused by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), that has the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) as active metabolite, a molecule very similar to paraquat (Dauer and Przedborski 2003).This protective effect of Se on dopamine in animal models of PD is further strengthened by the results of the work conducted by Zafar et al. ( 2003) who used the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to induce the model in rats.Additionally, a report of a test using embryonic stem cell transplantation in brains of rats submitted to a model of 6-OHDA-induced PD described that Se can also protect against inflammation generated in this therapy (Tian et al. 2012).Although the results of these studies are quite relevant, it is important to note that these authors investigated the effects of the mineral in experimental models of the disease, which differ in several aspects from PD that occurs naturally.Therefore, further studies are needed to extrapolate the results to humans.In all experimental studies cited above, the Se used in the tests was sodium selenite, an inorganic form of Se.However, the Se used in other experimental strategies varies in terms of chemical structure, which further complicates the extrapolation of results to humans.
In this context, it is important to mention that the type of Se used in future pharmacological therapies should be considered, and the potential therapeutic use of organoselenium compounds should be further explored (Nogueira and Rocha 2011).For example, ebselen, an organic form of Se, has a known strong antioxidant function (Miorelli et al. 2008) and therefore has the potential to combat oxidative stress that occurs in PD.Thereby, studies investigating the antioxidant potential of ebselen are encouraged.

Selenium and tHe locomotor SyStem
Because locomotor damage is a main feature of PD, it is interesting to analyze the results obtained from studies that evaluated the influence of Se on various aspects of the locomotor system.High levels of Se in the human organism protect the motor function in individuals exposed to mercury (Lemire et al. 2011), whereas the serum levels of Se appear to also be associated with the walking speed in elderly (≥65 years) women in a positive way (Alipanah et al. 2009).In the treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome, a human disorder based on the dopamine system that causes limb movements and could be associated with PD (Gao et al. 2010, Rahimdel et al. 2012), a daily dose of 50 µg of Se improved symptoms (Rahimdel et al. 2012).In animal models, Yeo et al. (2008) reported that Se (sodium selenite) protects the locomotor system of rats submitted to damage to the spinal cord.This protection of locomotion was also obtained by Zafar et al. (2003) and by our research group (Ellwanger et al. 2015), both using other animal models (PD models) and evaluating various aspects of locomotion, as previously mentioned.The administration of physiological doses of sodium selenite may contribute to the physical performance of rats, as assessed by levels of glycogen in liver after a swimming test (Akil et al. 2011).However, a recent study by Marcondes Sari et al. ( 2014) did not find changes in locomotor function evaluated by open-field test in mice that received p-chloroselenosteroid.It is difficult to compare the studies that evaluated the effects of Se on locomotion, because there are few experimental approaches and they differ.Therefore, it is not possible to obtain consistent conclusions or extrapolate them to the locomotor effects observed in patients with PD.

Selenium imbalance and brain dySfunction
Selenoproteins are also essential to brain function (Chen and Berry 2003), and the depletion of these proteins seems to be related to the pathophysiology of PD (Zhang et al. 2010).This mechanism suggests that analyzing the results of studies that investigated the interaction between Se and selenoproteins and its relation with the brain and PD is also relevant.In this context, the roles of glutathione peroxidase and selenoprotein P are briefly discussed in this review.
Rats deficient in Se have lower glutathione peroxidase (a Se-dependent enzyme) activity in the brain (Sanchez et al. 2003).Additionally, the reduction of the antioxidant defenses in the brain caused by Se deficiency is attributed to the decrease of glutathione peroxidase activity (Castaño et al. 1997).Kim et al. (1999) observed that dietary Se (sodium selenite) attenuated the neurotoxicity in mice treated with methamphetamine evaluated by dopamine depletion in the striatum and substantia nigra.The authors also attributed this neurotoxicity prevention principally to the activity of glutathione peroxidase.These data were supported by evidence that neurotoxicity (high oxidative stress) induced by methamphetamine can be mitigated by maintaining glutathione peroxidase activity through the use of Se (Imam andAli 2000, Barayuga et al. 2013).These results demonstrate that glutathione peroxidase plays a key role in protecting against the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, and therefore could be involved in the physiopathology of PD (Smeyne and Smeyne 2013).
Selenoprotein P is also critical to neuronal functioning (Peters et al. 2006) and the normal level of Se in the brain (Burk et al. 2014).The deletion of this protein causes inadequate uptake of Se by the brain, as demonstrated by Hill et al. (2003) in a study using mice.More recently, other studies using animals showed that the deletion of selenoprotein P causes the degeneration of the brain cells (Caito et al. 2011, Byrns et al. 2014).By examining post mortem brain tissue from PD patients, Bellinger et al. (2012) demonstrated that selenoprotein P expression decreased in the substantia nigra of these individuals compared JOEL H. ELLWANGER, SILVIA I.R. FRANKE, DIANA L. BORDIN, DANIEL PRÁ and JOÃO A.P. HENRIQUES with controls.However, the authors also described that the protein was increased relative to the total number of cells.All this evidence indicates that Se may influence neurodegeneration by altering the activity of selenoproteins, such as glutathione peroxidase and selenoprotein P. In other words, the concept that Se has an indirect action in the protection process in addition to its nonselenoprotein antioxidant function is reinforced (Imam andAli 2000, Hart et al. 2013).
Se deficiencies can modify the functioning of dopaminergic neurons (Watanabe et al. 1997), which are the main cells that are affected in PD.Paradoxically, Se deficiency may increase the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine production (Romero-Ramos et al. 2000).These data suggest that the deficiency of the mineral can trigger compensatory activity by dopamine production in response to a situation in which its depletion (due to Se deficiency) is previously established.In a study conducted in the 1990s by Aguilar et al. (1998), no differences in cerebrospinal fluid levels of Se were observed between PD patients and control subjects.Qureshi et al. (2006) reported an increased cerebrospinal Se level in PD patients compared to controls.Zhao et al. ( 2013) also reported higher Se levels in PD patients compared with control individuals, but the study evaluated plasma levels of the mineral.Additionally, reduced Se was not found in people with PD if the nutrient was measured in lymphocytes (Mischley et al. 2012) or by serum levels (Aguilar et al. 1998, Younes-Mhenni et al. 2013).However, low serum levels of Se in individuals with PD compared with controls were reported by Nikam et al. (2009).Ultimately, according to the results obtained by the cited studies, it is not possible to make a direct relationship between Se status and PD after the disease has already been established.This finding highlights that the use of the mineral for preventing disease could be a promising strategy.
Paradoxically, increased deaths due to PD have been reported in men who lived in an area where the drinking water was rich in inorganic Se (Vinceti et al. 2000).These data were reinforced by the findings of a study in which PD patients consumed Se-rich foods with higher frequency than control subjects (Ayuso-Peralta et al. 1997).These data highlight that Se in high amounts is prooxidant (Letavayová et al. 2006, Brozmanová et al. 2010).Currently, cultural habits that favor the consumption of some specific Se-rich food or their easy availability may be responsible for excessive consumption of the mineral.The results of these studies also demonstrate the augmented complexity of investigating the effects of Se from food consumption, in which synergism and antagonism between nutrients occur, compared with seeking correlations between disease and levels of the mineral or studying controlled intake of the mineral through supplements.More studies evaluating the relationship between PD and the consumption of Se through food are needed, especially to provide technical and scientific information for the elaboration of better diets for the elderly population.
Finally, from the information presented and discussed here, the probable/hypothetical relationship between the nutritional status of Se and PD is summarized in a schematic model presented in Figure 3.The events shown in this hypothetical model, as well as the relationship between them, represent the evidence most strongly established in the literature.As described in this review, new events and interactions have also been suggested and discussed by several authors but were not included in the model because more research is needed to confirm and further characterize their roles in the pathophysiology of PD.

CONCLUSIONS
Despite being a mineral required in low amounts for the human body, an adequate level of Se might improve several aspects of human health.Se deficiencies are rarely reported, making it appear that it is a situation of little importance.However, subclinical deficiencies may impact cellular metabolism and cause changes that can lead to various diseases, possibly including neurodegenerative conditions, if accumulated and associated with other environmental and genetic factors.Moreover, Se in excess is also associated with pathological situations.Therefore, we stress

Brain
Substantia nigra

High lipidic peroxidation
Low DNA repair

High DNA damage
Figure 3 -Probable (hypothetical) relationship between nutritional status of Se and events that culminate in PD.Elderly individuals are susceptible to dietary imbalances that may cause inadequate nutritional Se.Inadequate levels of Se (high or low) in the brain cause co-interacted events that culminate in the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra; however, adequate levels of Se protect against these events.The neuronal death of dopaminergic neurons leads to PD, which affects the locomotor system.This locomotor impairment can cause damage to the lives of individuals affected by disease as well as inadequate diet.
the importance of maintaining Se consumption in the recommended doses by IOM (2000) (55 -400 µg/day for adults), either through food or through supplements (if they are needed).This information is especially important for nutritionists and other health professionals who work with the nutritional management of subjects who are healthy as well as subjects with pathological conditions.People who live in geographical regions where the soil is rich or poor in mineral levels should receive more attention in regard to the quantities of Se ingested.Among neurodegenerative diseases that could be physiologically affected by Se levels, PD is prominent.Evidence has shown that PD is most likely the result of an association between environmental and genetic factors.People who have genetic characteristics associated with high disease risk should avoid environmental/occupational exposure to pesticides and should maintain a diet with adequate levels of antioxidants (including Se) and attitudes that can slow and prevent the onset of disease.Although the death of dopaminergic neurons has been described as a main cause of PD, new studies have shown that several other molecular events may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.This fact demonstrates that the causal events of PD are still unclear and should be further studied.
Studies in humans and in experimental models suggest that Se could be involved in the pathophysiology of PD and that the mineral, if used in appropriate doses, could protect against this disease.This effect is mainly due to the antioxidant characteristics of Se and its ability to fight the molecular events that culminate in neuronal death.However, the results of some studies have not supported these findings.These conclusions underscore the importance of conducting studies that aim to explore and establish the role of Se in PD in more detail.Accordingly, it will be possible to confirm or not the beneficial effects of using Se for the prevention or in the dietary treatment of PD.However, in the elderly, it is clear that a proper diet for age and proper Se intake according to recommendations is essential not only for the prevention of PD but for several other diseases, whether neurodegenerative or not.Lastly, based on the evaluation and discussion of the studies presented in this review, it can be suggested that continued investigations into the influence of Se on PD are important.
diagnoSiS and biological markerS of ParkinSon´S diSeaSeThere is no specific biochemical test to indicate the presence of PD.The diagnosis is made primarily from signs and clinical features presented by the patient(Nussbaum and Ellis 2003, Lees et al.  2009) and can only be confirmed at postmortem examination(Nussbaum and Ellis 2003).Recently it was demonstrated that quantify the expression of α-synuclein in skin biopsies have the potential to be used as an additional tool for the diagnosis of PD(Rodríguez-Leyva et al. 2014).Some of the clinical signs used to establish the diagnosis of PD are tremor at rest, postural instability, muscular rigidity, and difficulty in initiating movements (akinesia) or continuing them (bradykinesia), among others that affect movement(Lees et al. 2009, Mazzoni et al. 2012).
JOEL H. ELLWANGER, SILVIA I.R. FRANKE, DIANA L. BORDIN, DANIEL PRÁ and JOÃO A.P. HENRIQUES The involvement of genetic factors in the onset of PD is quite relevant.In a recent meta-analysis conducted by Nalls et al. (2014), six new risk loci for PD were described: SIPA1L2, INPP5F, MIR4697, GCH1, VPS13C and DDRGK1.In meta-analysis studies, Dai et al. (2014) reported that TNF-1031 polymorphism is a possible risk factor for PD, and Wang et al. (2014) concluded that the null genotype of GSTT1 is also related to increased risk of the development of PD, at least in Caucasians.The roles of the genes parkin, DJ-1 and PINK-1 in the susceptibility to PD (Hauser and Hastings 2013) should be highlighted, as well as the LRRK2 gene (Martin et al. 2014).Genetic mutations affecting the PINK1 and LRRK2 proteins are related to mitochondrial dysfunction and the formation of reactive oxygen species (Zuo and Motherwell 2013), which are events involved in PD pathophysiology.oXidative StreSS and otHer molecular dySfunctionS in ParkinSon´S diSeaSe

Glutathione peroxidase H 2 O 2 LOOH 2H 2 O LOH + H 2 O 2GSH GSSG Glutathione reductase NADPH + H + NADP + Se
Detoxification of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and lipid peroxides (LOOH) by Sedependent glutathione peroxidase.Glutathione peroxidase activity requires two molecules of the tripeptide GSH, which is restored by the enzyme glutathione reductase.
SELENIUM AND PARKINSON'S DISEASE1659 Estevez et al. (2012)LVIA I.R. FRANKE, DIANA L. BORDIN, DANIEL PRÁ and JOÃO A.P. HENRIQUESPotential noXiouS effectS of Selenium overloadIt is important to mention that despite Se influence on the metabolism of various human diseases by its antioxidant action, the role of this mineral cannot always be protective or combat injury inherent to a pathological condition.Se may not often act protectively or even beneficially, as demonstrated by Maraldi et al. (2011) in a test performed in vitro using human neuron cells and byEstevez et al. (2012), who showed that a high dose of Se can induce oxidative stress in cholinergic neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans.Recent results indicated that the supplementation of 200 μg of Se/day from populations that live in geographical areas where the mineral is not easily consumed through diet or have genetic variations that alter the metabolism of the mineral (Pitts et al. (Zhao et , Ellwanger et al. 2011, Yakubov et al. 2014) of Se.The Se ant, Sudfeld et al. 2014)rs through selenoproteins, which are influenced by Se levels obtained through diet.(fromL-selenomethionine) is not recommended for preventing prostate cancer(Kristal et al. 2014).This information calls attention to the importance of not considering the mineral only as a protective agent when introduced into a research protocol.Depending on the quantities used, type of Se chosen and experimental conditions, Se could have detrimental effects, similar to those mentioned above.adequateSeleniumlevelSforPreventingdiSeaSeSStudiesthatinvestigated the effect of Se on various parameters related to health or disease in humans have used various approaches.These studies used food questionnaires(Lemire et al. 2011, Vieira Rocha et al. 2014), measured mineral levels in plasma(Zhao et al. 2013) and breast-milk(Flax et  al. 2014), and incorporated supplements (Kristal et  al. 2014, Sudfeld et al. 2014).Regarding the use of Se supplements in research with adult humans, additional doses up to 200 μg of Se/day may be appropriate.This value represents an amount of mineral approximately 4 times higher than the recommended value (can be used to evaluate the effects of high doses of the mineral) but much less than the amount that could pose a risk to health(IOM 2000, Ellwanger et al. 2011, Yakubov et al. 2014).Clinically, Se supplementation may be important for individuals Selenium and tHe nervouS SyStem