Protective role of superoxide dismutase against diabetogenic drugs.

Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD) is present in relatively high concentrations in the beta-cells of human islets. The activity of the extracted enzyme is partially inhibited upon incubation with the diabetogenic drugs alloxan, streptozotocin, or Vacor. The role of this enzyme in protecting beta-cells against chemically induced diabetes was further investigated. Incubation of intact canine islets with alloxan (0.2 mg/ml) and 4 mM glucose decreased the insulin secretory response by 87% during subsequent exposure to 28 mM glucose. Concomitantly the SOD-specific activity (units of enzyme activity per milligram immunoreactive SOD) decreased 50% in alloxan-exposed islets. When islets were protected from alloxan toxicity by including 28 mM glucose with alloxan, the insulin secretory response and SOD specific activity remained identical to controls. Thus, SOD specific activity correlates with maintenance of beta-cell function. To test the effectiveness of SOD against streptozotocin in vitro, canine islets were incubated 10 min with or without streptozotocin (0.1 mg/ml) with 4 mM glucose; their functional integrity was tested subsequently as the insulin secretory response to 28 mM glucose. Exposure to streptozotocin alone decreased the response by 70%; inclusion of SOD (1.5 mg/ml) before and during exposure to streptozotocin completely prevented this effect. Cyanide-inactivated SOD was not effective. The potential of SOD to prevent streptozotocin-induced diabetes was tested in rats in vivo. SOD injected 10 s or 50 min before streptozotocin prevented or significantly attenuated diabetes. Injection of SOD and streptozotocin simultaneously was much less effective, and cyanide-inactivated SOD was ineffective. No protection was afforded by injection of SOD 12 or 24 h before streptozotocin. Our results support hypotheses that (a) oxygen radicals mediate the beta-cell toxicity of both alloxan and streptozotocin, and (b) beta-cells may be particularly vulnerable to oxygen radical damage.