Treatment of human cancers by NO-releasing reagents related to Mn-SOD
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- Published online on: May 1, 1997 https://doi.org/10.3892/or.4.3.603
- Pages: 603-606
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Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) plays various roles in organisms, including its anti-tumor effect. But it was not well known how NO actually influences human cancer cells and destroys them. We investigated the relation between NO and SODs using S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP), an NO releasing reagent. In several cancer cells treated with SNAP, the expression of manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) mRNA and the enzymatic activity of Mn-SOD were both enhanced. These results suggest that some human cancers which are resistant to NO may enhance the expression of Mn-SOD in order to protect themselves against NO radicals. Such mechanism is also expected to offer a clue to the practical use of NO donors as an anti-cancer drug.