Comparative anti-inflammatory activity of different superoxide dismutases and liposomal SOD in ischemia

Comparison of superoxide dismutases from different sources with respect to biological activity in the rat tourniquet poditis model shows that anti-ischemic activity is very variable although all the enzymes have the same specific enzymic activity. Both bovine Cu-SOD and E. coli Mn-SOD have excellent properties whereas yeast Cu-SOD and the homologous rat Cu-SOD show zero activity. The results confirm earlier demonstrations that (1) "All superoxide dismutases are equal but some are more equal than others", (2) at the dose levels used (compatible with possible clinical use) homologous enzyme is inefficient and hence human Cu-SOD may not be effective in humans, (3) liposomal encapsulation of bovine Cu-SOD greatly enhances biological efficacity, provides a slow release mechanism of the enzyme and provides a powerful drug for the treatment of ischemic injury.