Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase genotypes and activities and the progression of chronic kidney disease

Background. Oxidative stress has been linked to the progression of disease, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of the present study was to determine the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase, and their activities and the progression of CKD. Methods. Prospective cohort study of 185 CKD patients (stages 2-4), followed for up to 12 months. All patients were genotyped for SNPs of SOD (SOD Ala16Val), GPx (GPx Pro197Leu) and catalase (C-262T). Rate of change over study period of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), plasma and red blood cell (RBC) GPx, RBC SOD and RBC catalase activities were determined. Results. CKD patients with the SOD Ala/Val and Val/Val genotypes had a significantly greater eGFR decline compared to those with the Ala/Ala genotype (Ala/Val compared with Ala/Ala OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.64, p=0.001; Val/Val compared with Ala/Ala OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.65, p=0.005). The progression of CKD was not associated with SNPs of the GPx or catalase genes studied but there was a direct relationship between the rate of change of plasma GPx activity and the rate of change of eGFR over 12 months (p=0.025). Conclusion. CKD patients with the SOD Ala/Val and Val/Val genotypes have a greater decline in kidney function than those with the Ala/Ala genotype.