Manganese-superoxide dismutase in endothelial cells: localization and mechanism of induction

Mechanisms of Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) expression in human umbilical endothelial cells were investigated by Northern blot analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoelectron microscopy. The Mn-SOD in human endothelial cells was markedly induced by the cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1, and lipopolysaccharide as well as by phorbol esters [12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)]. The induction was partially blocked by dexamethasone and 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC). In endothelial cells in which PKC had been desensitized to TPA by pretreatment for 24 h, addition of TNF caused overexpression of Mn-SOD. These facts suggested that at least two separate signal-transducing pathways are involved in expression of the Mn-SOD gene. Immunoelectron-microscopic studies showed that Mn-SOD was localized to the mitochondrial matrix of the capillary vascular endothelial cells of cardiac tissues and cultured endothelial cells. Mn-SOD, which is normally abundant in endothelial cells relative to other cell types, may play an important protective role against stresses such as ischemia and inflammation.