Studies on the clinical and laboratory pharmacology of drug formulations of bovine Cu—Zn superoxide dismutases (orgotein)

Concerning the role of endogenous copper in the acute inflammatory process

“…At first, many phenol-like compounds, probably capable of acting as free radical scavengers, are anti-inflammatory in vivo [20,22,23]. Secondly, the copper-zinccontaining enzyme superoxide dismutase has shown an extremely significant anti-inflammatory activity in vivo, both in man [28] and animals [21,28,29]. Thirdly, BOHNENKAMP and WESER [33], using a 0.2 p.p.m, copper-deficient diet, were able to show a remarkable decrease of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase activity of the total blood cells in copper-deprived rats (about 50% decrease after 1 month of diet); similar results were also obtained in copper-deficient pigs [34].…”

“…In vivo anti-inflammatory properties of the 2Cu,2Zn-superoxide dismutase SALIN and McCORD [19] KUEHL, JR. et al [20,35] OYANAGUI [21] McCORD [18] SOPBAfiSKI et al [22], PARNHAM et al [23] and KUEHL, JR. et al [20] AMPHLETT et al [24] and RICHARDSON [25] BRIGELIUS et al [26,27] HUBER et al [28], OYANAGUI [21 ] and McCoRD et al [29] described [10], by atomic absorption spectroscopy (PerkinElmer 360 atomic absorption spectrophotometer) on a minimal number of 5 rats for each determination. The foot oedema was induced by injecting 0.1 ml of 1% carrageenan (Prodotti, Gianni -Milano), suspended in sterile saline, into the plantar aponeurosis of the right-hind paw of each rat.…”

Review: Copper and inflammation — a possible rationale for the pharmalogical manipulation of inflammatory discorders

“…Many copper-containing compounds may mimic the cupriprotein superoxide dismutase in destroying superoxide anions [37] and, moreover, extensive evidence indicates that free radicals and free radical products are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders [38]. In this context it has been found that (1) the enzyme superoxide dismutase is effective in controlling joint swelling in rheumatoid arthritis [39]; (2) the polymorphonuclear leucocytes isolated from children affected by rheumatoid arthritis generate more superoxide anions and display less superoxide dismutase activity, compared with normal cells [40]; (3) a significant decrease of superoxide dismutase activity is evident in the haemolysate of patients with rheumatoid arthritis [41]; (4) plasma levels of malondialdehyde, one of the products of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation, are significantly increased and correlated with the severity of disease activity in rheumatic patients [42]; (5) free radical products are generated in inflamed synovial fluids, and in those fluids ceruloplasmin may exert a protective role by inhibiting iron catalyzed peroxidation reactions [28].…”

Measurement of Serum Superoxide Dismutase Activity by Electron Spin Resonance

“…Serum superoxide dismutase activity could be measured after the injection of bovine Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase by three different routes. Superoxide dismutase is reported to disappear rapidly after the superoxide dismutase injection [11], i.e., the half life of superoxide dismutase activity by intravenous injection is about 6 min.…”