Manganese superoxide dismutase polymorphism affects the oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced apoptosis of macrophages and coronary artery disease.

Aims: Oxidative damage promotes atherosclerosis. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is an antioxidant enzyme localized in mitochondria. We investigated the associations of the MnSOD polymorphism (valine-to-alanine in the mitochondrial-targeting domain) with its activity in leukocytes, with macrophage apoptosis by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), and with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Carbon monoxide protects against cardiac ischemia--reperfusion injury in vivo via MAPK and Akt--eNOS pathways.

Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) is postulated to protect tissues against several types of injuries. We investigated the role of CO in amelioration of cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo and the mechanisms involved in it.

Methods And Results: Rats inhaled CO (250 ppm, 500 ppm, or 1000 ppm) for 24 hours in a chamber after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion induced by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 minutes.