Characterization of superoxide dismutases in cardiac progenitor cells demonstrates a critical role for manganese superoxide dismutase.

ABSTRACT: Transplantation of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) is currently in early clinical testing as a potential therapeutic strategy. Superoxide is increased in the ischemic myocardium and poor survival of cells is one of the major limitations of cell transplantation therapy. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were analyzed in c-kit-positive CPCs isolated from rat myocardium to identify their roles in protection against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in vitro. CPCs were subjected to oxidative stress using xanthine/xanthine oxidase (XXO) and little apoptosis was detected. CPCs contained significantly higher levels of SOD1 and SOD2 as compared with adult cardiac cell types, both at the protein and activity levels. Both SOD1 and SOD2 were increased by XXO at the mRNA and protein level, suggesting

SUBMITTER: Seshadri G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3495122 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature