Search

In this study, the effects of heparin-superoxide dismutase conjugate (heparin-SOD) on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and on inflammatory cytokine expression in vitro were evaluated. To investigate the effects of heparin-SOD on pulmonary fibrosis, heparin-SOD was administered to bleomycin (BLM)-treated mice by intraperitoneal injection once a day and the hydroxyproline content in lung was determined per 7days. The degree of fibrosis was assessed quantitatively using histopathologic features. The results showed that heparin-SOD inhibited BLM-induced lung fibrotic lesions as reflected by the decrease of lung hydroxyproline content and lung fibrosis grade 28days after BLM instillation. The in vitro effects on the cytokine level expressed by irradiated 3T3 fibroblasts showed that heparin-SOD significantly lowered the levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 and interleukin-1beta. These results strongly demonstrated that heparin-SOD might be useful in the prevention and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

In this study, the effects of heparin-superoxide dismutase conjugate (heparin-SOD) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver failure and hepatic fibrosis were evaluated. To investigate the effects of heparin-SOD on acute liver failure, heparin-SOD was administered to CCl4-treated mice by intravenous injection. Biochemical indicators, such as glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase/glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GOT/GPT), GSH (glutathione), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined 24 h after CCl4 treatment. The development of CCl4-induced acute liver failure altered the redox state with a decreased hepatic GSH and increased formation of lipid peroxidative products, which were partially normalized by treatment with heparin-SOD or heparin + SOD. Compared with other groups, the acute liver injury of heparin-SOD group was significantly lessened (reduced activities of GOT/GPT, MDA, and increased activities of GSH). To investigate the effects of heparin-SOD on hepatic fibrosis, heparin-SOD and CCl4 were co-administered by intraperitoneal injection twice a week for 12 weeks. Histological and hepatic hydroxyproline examination revealed that heparin-SOD could significantly prevent the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, real-time PCR was used to determine transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), fibronectin, and collagen-I expression. Significantly, greater fibrosis and TGF-beta1, MMP-2, fibronectin, and collagen-I expression were found in the liver of CCl4-induced mice at the end of 12th week. Heparin-SOD could markedly attenuate the mRNA expression of TGF-beta1, MMP-2, and collagen-I. Western blots of tissue homogenates revealed that the protein expression of TGF-beta1 was substantially reduce also by heparin-SOD treatment. These results demonstrate that administration of heparin-SOD may be useful in the treatment and prevention of acute liver failure and hepatic fibrosis.

Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) were extensively investigated on preventing brain reperfusion injury after ischemia (BRII) in the past few years and both exhibited some advantages as well as limits in practice. To explore whether chemical modification for LMWH and SOD can lead to improved bioactivity,in our present study, we examined the efficacy of LMWH conjugated SOD (LMWH−SOD) in the model of BRII gerbils. Ischemia/reperfusion was performed for 5 min by clamping the bilateral common carotid arteries of gerbils. LMWH−SOD, SOD and the mixture of LMWH and SOD (LMWH+SOD) were administered intravenously to corresponding animals just before ischemia. 24 h after reperfusion, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content and SOD activity were measured, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was examined by immunohistochemistry, and the brain sections were processed for Nissl staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling.The results showed that LMWH−SOD significantly lowered MDA content (P<0.001, versus SOD and LMWH+SOD) and elevated SOD activity (P<0.05, versus SOD and LMWH+SOD) in the serum of BRII gerbils. Immunohistochemical results indicated ICAM-1 positive staining was lighter, pyramidal cells of hippocampal CA1 region were more regular and the changes in cell edema were minor, and apoptosis of hippocampal cells was milder in LMWH−SOD treated animals than in SOD or LMWH+SOD treated animals, untreated BRII animals and sham-operated animals. The results suggest that the novel LMWH−SOD conjugate can inhibit upregulation of ICAM-1 and prevent neuronal cell apoptosis in BRII gerbils, and the LMWH−SOD conjugate has better anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in BRII than native SOD and the mixture of LMWH and SOD.

• O-HTCC-SOD had long-acting and better protection on MIA-led chondrocytes than SOD. • O-HTCC-SOD protected chondrocytes via superior targeted removal of intracellular ROS. • O-HTCC-SOD showed improved pharmacokinetics in rat joint cavity compared with SOD. • O-HTCC-SOD notably attenuated MIA-induced OA symptoms in rats. • Targeted elimination of intracellular ROS is a viable way for OA therapy. In our previous work, cationic functionalized chitosan was chemically conjugated with superoxide dismutase (SOD) to yield a unique nanoparticle-like conjugate O-HTCC-SOD that has demonstrated superior potential in treating reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related disorders to SOD. Considering contribution of ROS to pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, O-HTCC-SOD was firstly measured for effect on rat chondrocytes exposure to monoiodoacetate (MIA). O-HTCC-SOD was nontoxic to chondrocytes and had more long-acting and intracellular protection effects on chondrocytes against MIA-induced oxidative damage due to its superior elimination of intracellular ROS to SOD. Pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that O-HTCC-conjugated SOD significantly prolonged half-life and residence in rat joint cavity, and improved bioavailability compared with unmodified SOD. Intra-articular injection of O-HTCC-SOD significantly attenuated mechanical allodynia in MIA-induced osteoarthritis rats, dramatically suppressed gross morphological and histological lesions of articular cartilage, and greatly enhanced in vivo antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory effect. But native SOD had no obvious therapeutic effects. Consequently, the nanoparticle-like conjugate O-HTCC-SOD of the excellent efficacy resulted from its targeted intracellular ROS clearance capability and improved pharmacokinetic profiles, opening up a novel avenue for disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]