Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) R213G variant reduces mitochondrial ROS and preserves mitochondrial function in bleomycin-induced lung injury: EC-SOD R213G variant and intracellular redox regulation

•The R213G variant of extracellular superoxide dismutase, which lowers matrix binding affinity and releases EC-SOD into extracellular fluids, lowers local superoxide levels in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid following bleomycin•The R213G EC-SOD variant protects the lung intracellular redox state, exemplified by less oxidized Eh GSSG, lower mitochondrial ROS level, and less mitochondrial cardiolipin oxidation•The R213G EC-SOD variant protects mitochondrial function in the setting of bleomycin-induced inflammation