title: BAL fluid contains detectable superoxide dismutase 1 activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study determined which, if any, of the three superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities were detectable in BAL fluid (BALF).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The identity and concentrations of antioxidant molecules in BALF have not been fully characterized. One important class of antioxidants is that of the SOD enzymes.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALF from control nonsmokers (n=9), smokers (n=7), and asthmatic subjects (n=12) were examined for SOD activity by a modified pyrogallol auto-oxidation method. The particular SOD enzyme or enzymes responsible for any activity were identified based on activity inhibition data and gel filtration column chromatography patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SOD activity was detected in all samples. Unlike serum or some other fluids, in which the enzyme extracellular SOD accounts for virtually all SOD activity, the enzyme SOD 1 accounted for virtually all SOD activity. BALF SOD activities were lower for smokers than for control or asthmatic subjects (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BALF SOD 1 activities can be measured as part of lung antioxidant studies. Data from a limited number of subjects suggested that smokers can have low BALF SOD values.
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition and Food Management, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: DiSilvestro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pacht
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jarjour
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joung
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trela-Fulop
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000201:enzymology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011748:Pyrogallol / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C000606290:SOD1 protein, human; D011748:Pyrogallol; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1