Reversible modulation of cell cycle kinetics in NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts by inducible overexpression of mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase

To study the mechanism(s) by which manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) mediates cellular growth inhibition, an inducible retroviral vector system regulated by the lac repressor was used to overexpress MnSOD protein in NIH/3T3 cells. Increased MnSOD activity led to decreased cell growth due to prolonged cell cycle transition times in G(1) and S phases without significant changes in G(2)/M phase. Changes in cell cycle transition time were reversible and tightly correlated with MnSOD levels. A transient increase of reactive oxygen species and concomitant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential were documented following MnSOD induction. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine prevented growth inhibition by MnSOD. Our data suggest that MnSOD may serve a physiological function of regulating cell cycle progression through its prooxidant activity of generating hydrogen peroxide, resulting in coordination of mitochondrial redox state and cellular proliferation.