Superoxide dismutase [Mn], mitochondrial

Superoxide dismutase [Mn], mitochondrial (SOD2) is an antioxidant enzyme that catalyzes the destruction of superoxide anion radicals, which are toxic byproducts of cellular metabolism (UniProt: P04179). The enzyme localizes to mitochondria, where oxidative stress is particularly pronounced. SOD2 is a critical component of cellular defense against reactive oxygen species.

In UniProt's disease database, SOD2 is associated with microvascular complications of diabetes 6 (MVCD6), reflecting the role of oxidative stress in diabetic vascular pathology. However, SOD2's broader significance extends to neurodegenerative conditions where mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are pathogenic features.

SOD2 is upregulated in Alzheimer's disease brain tissue relative to age-matched controls (Chaparral AD proteomics). The mean log2 fold-change is 0.6021, reflecting a modest but consistent elevation across multiple subcellular fractions in post-mortem human AD brain analyzed by quantitative mass spectrometry. This upregulation may represent a compensatory antioxidant response to increased oxidative burden in AD pathology, consistent with the neuroinflammatory and metabolic dysfunction characteristic of the disease.