The protective role of manganese superoxide dismutase against adriamycin-induced acute cardiac toxicity in transgenic mice

Hsiu Chuan Yen, Terry D. Oberley, Satit Vichitbandha, Ye Shih Ho, Daret K. St. Clair*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

409 Scopus citations

Abstract

Adriamycin (ADR) is a potent anticancer drug known to cause severe cardiac toxicity. Although ADR generates free radicals, the role of free radicals in the development of cardiac toxicity and the intracellular target for ADR-induced cardiac toxicity are still not well understood. We produced three transgenic mice lines expressing increased levels of human manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a mitochondrial enzyme, as an animal model to investigate the role of ADR-mediated free radical generation in mitochondria. The human MnSOD was expressed, functionally active, and properly transported into mitochondria in the heart of transgenic mice. The levels of copper-zinc SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase did not change in the transgenic mice. Electron microscopy revealed dose-dependent ultrastructural alterations with marked mitochondrial damage in nontransgenic mice treated with ADR, but not in the transgenic littermates. Biochemical analysis indicated that the levels of serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in ADR-treated mice were significantly greater in nontransgenic than their transgenic littermates expressing a high level of human MnSOD after ADR treatment. These results support a major role for free radical generation in ADR toxicity as well as suggesting mitochondria as the critical site of cardiac injury.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1253-1260
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume98
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 01 09 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • antineoplastic agents
  • antioxidants
  • free radicals
  • heart
  • mitochondria

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