Interaction between single nucleotide polymorphism in catalase gene and catalase activity under the conditions of oxidative stress.

Catalase is an antioxidant enzyme the activity of which is crucial for the protection against damage caused by reactive oxygen species. The -262C>T polymorphism in the promoter region of catalase gene was found to be associated with altered catalase levels. In this study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells catalase activity was measured after H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress. C/T and T/T genotypes were associated with the decrease of catalase levels in contrast to C/C donors who had elevated catalase activity in the presence of 0.4 and 0.7 mM H(2)O(2). Genotype-dependent response of catalase activity to oxidative stress might be related to the predisposition of catalase mutant allele carriers to disorders mediated by oxidative stress.