Maxwell Mathias, MD

Preterm infants are up to 16 times more likely than full-term infants to lack the essential micronutrient selenium. This deficiency happens because premature birth cuts short the transfer of several important nutrients to the infant, an event that occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy. Selenium is incorporated into several proteins critical for early development. Our previous work has shown that a diet deficient in selenium during pregnancy and early newborn life impairs the growth of the lungs and lung blood vessels in mice. The current project focuses on how low selenium impacts the lungs in preterm infants by targeting specific cells that line the blood vessel, the endothelium and eliminating selenium-containing proteins during critical periods of lung development. In addition, we will study the impact of selenium supplementation on endothelial cells isolated from preterm and full-term infant umbilical cords. By studying exactly how and when selenium is most critical to the developing blood vessels, we can develop targeted testing and supplementation strategies during early life of preterm infants.