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Cu/Zn-superoxide Dismutase (cu + dismutase)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Chemistry	50%

Selected Abstracts

Gene delivery of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase improves graft function after transplantation of fatty livers in the rat

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2000
Thorsten G. Lehmann
Oxygen-derived free radicals play a central role in reperfusion injury after organ transplantation, and fatty livers are particularly susceptible. Endogenous radical scavengers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) degrade these radicals; however, SOD is destroyed rapidly when given exogenously. Therefore, an adenoviral vector encoding the Cu/Zn-SOD gene (Ad.SOD1) was used here to test the hypothesis that organ injury would be reduced and survival increased in a rat model of transplantation of fatty livers. Donors received chow diet (untreated), high-fat diet, or ethanol-containing high-fat diet. Some of the ethanol-fed donors were infected either with the gene lacZ encoding bacterial ,-galactosidase (Ad.lacZ), or Ad.SOD1. After liver transplantation, SOD activity and protein expression in liver, survival, histopathology, release of transaminases, free radical adducts in bile, and activation of NF-,B, I,B kinase (IKK), Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), and TNF, were evaluated. Ad.SOD1 treatment increased survival dramatically, blunted transaminase release, and reduced necrosis and apoptosis significantly. Free radical adducts were increased two-fold in the ethanol group compared with untreated controls. Ad.SOD1 blunted this increase and reduced the activation of NF-,B. However, release of TNF, was not affected. Ad.SOD1 also blunted JNK activity after transplantation. This study shows that gene therapy with Ad.SOD1 protects marginal livers from failure after transplantation because of decreased oxygen radical production. Genetic modification of fatty livers using viral vectors represents a new approach to protect marginal grafts against primary nonfunction. [source]

Curcuma Aromatica Inhibits Diabetic Nephropathy in the Rat

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 9 2006
Ji-Young Hong
ABSTRACT:, To test the possible involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the etiology of diabetic complications and therapeutic potential of antioxidant biofactors, we studied the effects of Curcuma aromatica (C. aromatica) on the pathologic events in streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. Administration of streptozotocin (100 mg/kg, i.p.) increased plasma levels of glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and lipid peroxidation products but decreased plasma albumin levels and suppressed the growth of animals. Histological examination revealed a marked injury in renal glomeruli and proximal tubules with concomitant occurrence of 8-hydroxy-2,-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and mitochondrial 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE). Urinary excretion of 8-OHdG was also increased in streptozotocin-treated animals. Administration of streptozotocin decreased the mitochondrial localization of both Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cytochrome C in the kidney without affecting the localization of Mn-SOD. When animals were given 1.5%C. aromatica- containing diet for 1 wk before and 8 wk after administration of streptozotocin, all the events induced by streptozotocin except for hyperglycemia decreased markedly. Thus, C. aromatica may have therapeutic potential for the prevention of hyperglycemia-associated diabetic complications. [source]

GeneChip® analysis after acute spinal cord injury in rat

JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2001
Guoqing Song
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to induction and/or suppression of several genes, the interplay of which governs the neuronal death and subsequent loss of motor function. Using GeneChip®, the present study analyzed changes in the mRNA abundance at 3 and 24 h after SCI in adult rats. SCI was induced at T9 level by the New York University impactor by dropping a 10-g weight from a height of 25 mm. Several transcription factors, immediate early genes, heat-shock proteins, pro-inflammatory genes were up-regulated by 3 h, and persisted at 24 h, after SCI. On the other hand, some neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, ion channels, kinases and structural proteins were down-regulated by 3 h, and persisted at 24 h, after SCI. Several genes that play a role in growth/differentiation, survival and neuroprotection were up-regulated at 24 h after SCI. Using real-time quantitative PCR, the changes observed by GeneChip® were confirmed for seven up-regulated (interleukin-6, heat-shock protein-70, heme oxygenase-1, suppressor of cytokine signaling 2, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, interferon regulatory factor-1, neuropeptide Y), two down-regulated (vesicular GABA transporter and cholecystokinin precursor) and two unchanged (Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase and phosphatidyl inositol-3-kinase) genes. The present study shows that inflammation, neurotransmitter dysfunction, increased transcription, ionic imbalance and cytoskeletal damage starts as early as 3 h after SCI. In addition to these effects, 24 h after SCI the repair and regeneration process begins in an attempt to stabilize the injured spinal cord. [source]

Detection and characterization of variant and modified structures of proteins in blood and tissues by mass spectrometry

MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS, Issue 5 2006
Akira Shimizu
Abstract Some variant proteins cause diseases, and some diseases result in increases of proteins with abnormally modified structures. The detection, characterization, and estimation of the relative amounts of protein variants and abnormally modified proteins are important for clinical diagnosis and for elucidation of the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of diseases. Analysis of the covalent structures of proteins using matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization MS (LC-ESI-MS), which had been developed by the early 1990s, have largely replaced analyses by conventional protein chemistry. Here, we review the detection and characterization of hemoglobin variants, HbA1c measurement, detection of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, and identification of variants of transthyretin (TTR) and Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) using soft ionization MS. We also propose the diagnostic application of the signals of modified forms of TTR, that is, S-sulfonated TTR and S-homocysteinyl TTR. The relative peak height ratio of the abnormal/normal components gives valuable information about the instability of variants and enables the detection of unstable Hb subunits or thalassemia heterozygotes. We found unique modified structures of TTR that suggested changes in amyloid fibrils. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]