BAL fluid contains detectable superoxide dismutase 1 activity.
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.
DiSilvestro
R A
RA
Human Nutrition and Food Management, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
Pacht
E
E
Davis
W B
WB
Jarjour
N
N
Joung
H
H
Trela-Fulop
K
K
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
D000975:Antioxidants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C000606290:SOD1 protein, human; D011748:Pyrogallol; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1