An adenovirus encoding CuZnSOD protects cultured striatal neurones against glutamate toxicity.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), a key enzyme in the detoxification of free radicals, catalyses the dismutation of superoxide O2.- to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It is therefore a promising candidate for gene transfer therapy of neurological diseases in which free radicals are thought to be involved. We have constructed a recombinant adenoviral vector containing the human copper-zinc SOD cDNA. Using this vector we were able to drive the production of an active human copper-zinc SOD protein (hCuZnSOD) in various cell lines and primary cultures. Infection of striatal cells with a recombinant adenovirus expressing hCuZnSOD protected these cells from glutamate-induced cell death.