Abstract
Superoxide is produced as a result of normal energy metabolism within the mitochondria and is scavenged by the mitochondrial form of superoxide dismutase (sod2). Mice with inactivated SOD2 (sod2 nullizygous mice) die prematurely, exhibiting several metabolic and mitochondrial defects and severe tissue pathologies, including a lethal spongiform neurodegenerative disorder (Li et al., 1995; Melov et al., 1998, 1999). We show that treatment of sod2 nullizygous mice with synthetic superoxide dismutase (SOD)-catalase mimetics extends their lifespan by threefold, rescues the spongiform encephalopathy, and attenuates mitochondrial defects. This class of antioxidant compounds has been shown previously to extend lifespan in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (Melov et al., 2000). These new findings in mice suggest novel therapeutic approaches to neurodegenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress such as Friedreich ataxia, spongiform encephalopathies, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, in which chronic oxidative damage to the brain has been implicated.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antioxidants / administration & dosage*
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Antioxidants / chemistry
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Catalase
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Catalysis
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Disease Progression
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Drug Administration Schedule
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Ethylenediamines / administration & dosage
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Ethylenediamines / chemistry
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Free Radical Scavengers / administration & dosage*
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Free Radical Scavengers / chemistry
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Injections, Intraperitoneal
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Lipids / chemistry
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Metalloporphyrins / administration & dosage
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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Mitochondria / drug effects
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Mitochondria / pathology
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Neurodegenerative Diseases / drug therapy*
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Neurodegenerative Diseases / enzymology*
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Neurodegenerative Diseases / genetics
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Neurodegenerative Diseases / pathology
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Organometallic Compounds / administration & dosage
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Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
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Oxidative Stress / drug effects
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Phenotype
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Salicylates / administration & dosage
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Salicylates / chemistry
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Superoxide Dismutase / deficiency*
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Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
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Survival Rate
Substances
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Antioxidants
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EUK-134
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EUK-189
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Ethylenediamines
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Free Radical Scavengers
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Lipids
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Metalloporphyrins
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Organometallic Compounds
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Salicylates
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manganese(III)-tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin
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N,N'-bis(salicylideneamino)ethane-manganese(II)
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Catalase
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Superoxide Dismutase
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superoxide dismutase 2