Selenoprotein W serves as an antioxidant in chicken myoblasts

► The siRNA suppressed the SelW expression by > 77% in chicken myoblasts ► SelW gene silencing enhanced ROS formation in chicken myoblasts ► SelW gene silencing activated cell apoptosis and related signaling ► SelW gene silencing sensitized cells to the H2O2-mediated apoptosis ► Oxidative damages induced by the SelW knockdown was alleviated by NAC