On the Occurrence of Catalase in Human Tissues and Its Variations in Diseases

Abstract

Catalase is a ferment which occurs in all vegetable and animal tissues, and is characterized by its power of decomposing hydrogen peroxide with the formation of water and the evolution of oxygen. Schoenbein in his studies on hydrogen peroxide, found that it was decomposed by extracts of animal and plant tissues obtained from the most diverse sources, and he considered that all ferments possessed the property of decomposing hydrogen peroxide, which besides was able to effect their specific activity. His experiments showed not only that some enzymes did not have the power of splitting hydrogen peroxide, but that by the addition of weak acids and other inhibitors, enzymes could be made to lose their power of decomposing hydrogen peroxide without losing their specific action, for example, by heating emulsin or by adding weak acids to it, its action on hydrogen peroxide decreased more rapidly than its action on amygdalin. This was the first indication of the specific nature of the enzyme which catalytically decomposes hydrogen peroxide, namely, catalase.The property tissue extracts have of producing a blue coloration with tincture of guaiac in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was also thought by Schoenbein to be brought about by the various soluble ferments. He obtained both of the above reactions--the guaiac blueing test in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, and the 1

On the pulmonary toxicity of oxygen: III. The induction of oxygen dependency by oxygen use

“…Although not plotted in a semilog fashion the survival curve for the joint liposome treatment was suggestive of a triphasic response. As postulated by Winternitz and Meloy in 1908, the direct correlation between the tissue engorgement by erythrocytes and the level of the antioxidant enzyme catalase is a signal statement on the role of the latter toward the cause or causes of the former.…”

“…Indeed, gross photographs of neonatal human lung from the preintensive care era, and of newborn rabbit and guinea pig lungs from experimental models, are the image of lungs looking like nearby liver. The association of this process with the blood borne antioxidant enzyme catalase has been known for over a century (Winternitz and Meloy, 1908).…”

A katalázkutatás kétszáz éve, 1818–2018

“…Winternitz és Meloy 1908-ban kadáveres mintákból a szövetek katalázaktivitásait vizsgálta különböző megbetegedésekben (vesegyulladás, tüdőgyulladás, tuberkulózis, diabetes) [15].…”

“…A májszövet csökkent katalázaktivitásáról tumoros megbetegedésekben Winternitz (1908) és Blumenthal (1909) a 20. század első évtizedében már beszámoltak, amit azután Rosenthal (1921) megerősített [15][16][17].…”

Evaluation of Potential Mechanisms Controlling the Catalase Expression in Breast Cancer Cells

“…This antioxidant enzyme is expressed in all major body organs especially in the liver, kidney, and erythrocytes. In these organs, catalase plays an essential role in cell defense against oxidative stress [ 1 , 2 ]. A decrease in catalase activity is thus frequently associated with several diseases.…”