[Superoxide dismutases: significances in aging, diabetes, ischemia and cancer].

Superoxide dismutases (SOD) and their changes in diabetes, aging, ischemia and cancer were studied, Cu, Zn-SOD undergoes glycation reaction in vitro and in vivo and loses its activity by formation of Amadori compounds. Two lysine residues of Cu, Zn-SOD, Lys-122 and Lys-128 are primary glycated sites which are located on the surface of the molecule. The sites are also located on the active site liganding loop which plays a major role in the activity. The glycated Cu, Zn-SOD increased in the red cells of diabetic patients, especially those with diabetic complications. Mn-SOD appears in the serum of patients with acute myocardial infarction in a biphasic manner. The enzyme appears in sera 16 hr and 108 hr after the attack as determined by ELISA. The Mn-SOD levels are also increased in the serum of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and it is a good marker for detecting and monitoring this cancer. Mn-SOD may play an important role in the ischemic and cancer tissues.