Normal CuZn superoxide dismutase, Mn superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in Werner's syndrome.

Werner's syndrome is often regarded as a segmental progeroid syndrome. It has been suggested that free radical damage involving oxygen contributes to aging. Furthermore, lymphocytes from Werner's syndrome patients show in vitro increased chromosome breakage and are protected by exogenous superoxide dismutase and catalase. We prepared erythrocytes and lymphocytes from three patients with Werner's syndrome and determined four important enzymes protecting against oxygen toxicity; CuZn superoxide dismutase, Mn superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. All enzymic activities were found to be normal.