Altered amount and activity of superoxide dismutase in sickle cell anemia.

The amount and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (EC 1.15.1.1) were measured in red cells collected from 50 white controls, 101 black controls, 50 patients with sickle hemoglobin (SS Hb), 12 with sickle trait, and 11 with other sickling hemoglobinopathies. Red cells from normal black subjects had more SOD amount and activity than normal whites (1.77 U/mg Hb and 2.96 micrograms/mg Hb vs. 1.47 U/mg Hb and 2.64 micrograms/mg Hb, respectively) or blacks with SS Hb or other sickling hemoglobinopathies. Patients with more severe manifestations of SS Hb had lower levels of SOD activity than those with milder symptoms but had the same amount of enzyme protein. Individuals with sickle trait had amounts and activities of SOD comparable to black controls. An alteration in defense to free radical oxygen may play a role in the severity of symptoms experienced by patients with homozygous sickle cell disease.