A SELENIUM TRANSPORT PROTEIN MODEL OF A SUB-TYPE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

The model presented here suggests that a defect in a selenium transpor t protein may be a necessary but not sufficient precondition for a sub -type of schizophrenia - a type of schizophrenia that has been charact erized by negative symptoms, brain damage, and a lack of primarily par anoid ideation. A defective selenium transport protein and consequent low levels of selenium might adversely affect multiple enzyme systems. Selenium-enzyme interreactions are discussed and the effect of seleni um on arachidonic acid and its metabolites, especially 12-HPETE, are e xamined in light of the presented model. If the proffered model is ess entially correct, selenoprotein P, a hypothesized selenium transport p rotein, is a likely candidate for a protein involved in the etiology o f a form of schizophrenia.