Gene Therapy for Systemic or Organ Specific Delivery of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a dominant component of the antioxidant defense system in mammalian cells. Since ionizing irradiation induces profound oxidative stress, it was logical to test the effect of overexpression of MnSOD on radioresistance. This task was accomplished by introduction of a transgene for MnSOD into cells in vitro and into organs in vivo, and both paradigms showed clear radioresistance following overexpression....