Anti-inflammatory activity of superoxide dismutases: inhibition of carrageenan induced edema in rats.

Eighteen different superoxide dismutases from procaryote, plant, fish, bird and mammalian species have been tested for anti-inflammatory activity in the rat paw pad carrageenan-induced inflammation model. Very large differences in activity are observed. Homologous rat Cu-SOD is not active and indeed shows slight pro-inflammatory activity. The different SODs have different iso-electric values, different metals (Cu, Mn or Fe) at the active centre, different molecular weights and different circulation lifetimes. Biological activity is a function of amino acid sequence rather than of such secondary parameters.