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

Various superoxide dismutases from different sources, containing Cu, Mn or Fe at the active centre, have been examined with respect to anti-inflammatory activity in a model using adriamycin-induced edema in rats. Very large differences in efficiency are observed, the most active being E. coli Mn-SOD and bovine Cu-SOD. The Fe-SOD from E. coli is active whereas P. leiognathi Fe-SOD is not. Human Mn-SOD shows no significant activity and homologous rat Cu-SOD is totally inactive. Yeast Cu-SOD shows pro-inflammatory properties. Anti-inflammatory activity is not a function of molecular weight or circulation life-time.