mRNA study on Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase induction by hemodialysis treatment.
OBJECTIVE
There is little or no controversy about the increased oxidative stress of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Several reports show that the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), one of the major endogenous antioxidant enzymes, in plasma is elevated among HD patients. It is still unclear, however, whether this elevation is due to the promotion of SOD production or a decrease in renal excretion of SOD. This study was designed to investigate the cause of the SOD activation in HD patients, and we examined the expression of SOD mRNA levels in leukocytes of patients with chronic renal failure.


METHODS
The total plasma SOD activity was determined by the nitroblue tetrazolium method, plasma SOD contents by ELISA, and SOD mRNA levels in leukocytes by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Our results demonstrated that contents and mRNA levels of Cu/Zn SOD in HD patients are 4.4 times and 2.0 times, respectively, as large as those in healthy controls. Furthermore, in contrast to nondialyzed chronic renal failure patients, we observed higher concentrations of Cu/Zn SOD in plasma and a more enhanced mRNA expression of Cu/Zn SOD in leukocytes of HD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased Cu/Zn SOD mRNA reflects enhanced antioxidant capacity of leukocytes and can be a promising oxidative stress marker in HD patients.
Akiyama
Shinichiro
S
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan. ANC18271@nifty.com
Inagaki
Masahiro
M
Tsuji
Mayumi
M
Gotoh
Hiromichi
H
Gotoh
Tomomi
T
Gotoh
Yoshikazu
Y
Oguchi
Katsuji
K
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase