Enzymatic antioxidant system of endotheliocytes.

It is shown that endothelial cells from human umbilical vein have a reduced activity and gene expression of the "classic" antioxidant enzymes (Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase, catalase, and Se-containing glutathione peroxidase). At the same time, a high expression level of peroxiredoxin genes was identified in the same endothelial cells, which obviously indicates the predominant involvement of these enzymes in protecting the endothelium from the damaging effect of free radical peroxidation.