Effects of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase delivered by genetically modified skin fibroblasts on cold-induced skin edema in rats

The effects of Cu, Zn-superoxide disumutase (SOD) delivered by genetically modified skin fibroblasts on cold-induced skin edema were studied in rats, Cold-induced skin edema was induced on the dorsal skin following transplant ation of ILSOD cells, genetically modified skin fibroblasts which release s ecretable SOD protein into the extracellular space. The degree of skin edem a induced by cold injury was estimated by measuring the amounts of Evans' b lue (EB) leaking into the injured skin following intravenously administrati on. The amounts of EB leakage were significantly reduced by transplantation of ILSOD cells relative to that observed following transplantation of host cells as a control. The degrees and durability of these effects of ILSOD c ells were dependent on the number of cells transplanted. Also, the increase s of lipid peroxidation following cold injury were significantly reduced by transplantation of ILSOD cells but not of host cells, These findings sugge sted that transplantation of ILSOD cells was a suitable delivery system for obtaining efficient and continuous effects of SOD, This strategy using gen etically modified skin fibroblasts may also be useful as a drug delivery sy stem for other therapeutic proteins.