Catalase (CAT)
Catalase is a heme-containing antioxidant enzyme that catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Catalase is a heme-containing antioxidant enzyme that catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. By removing hydrogen peroxide, it helps limit oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids and works in concert with other redox defenses such as Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and the broader Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) network. Catalase is therefore a central component of cellular antioxidant homeostasis and is frequently used as a biochemical readout of oxidative stress in biomedical research.
In recent literature, catalase has also appeared as a therapeutic target, a biomimetic function, or a catalytic activity incorporated into nanomaterials and hydrogels. Studies have examined catalase in contexts including renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, cataract, hepatocellular carcinoma, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, chronic mountain sickness, neurodegeneration, diabetes-related tissue injury, and nanoparticle-induced oxidative stress. Across these settings, catalase is typically discussed in relation to reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial dysfunction, ferroptosis, cellular senescence markers such as p16 and p21, and signaling pathways including PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, FOXO3, SIRT1/HIF-1α pathway, and Nrf2-related antioxidant responses.
Where the papers sit
12 papers from the last 6 months study Catalase (CAT) directly · updated from PubMed 1 Oct 2026
Study type 0 clinical trials · 1 observational · 2 human data · 9 preclinical
Themes 3 themes · 1 paradigm shift
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Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Biology
Redox imbalance is being linked to inflammation, tissue injury, aging, pain, and treatment response across diverse settings. SOD, FOXO3, and nitrosative stress recur as regulators or readouts of antioxidant failure. Engineered gold and metal-organic-framework nanozymes are moving antioxidant control toward targeted dermatologic and photodynamic applications. The broader therapeutic question is whether redox modulation can protect tissue without weakening useful oxidative signals.
6 papers · 50%
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Oxidative Stress in Tissue Health
Oxidative stress is being treated as a modifiable driver of bone loss, cataract formation, fungal injury, and exercise-associated tissue responses. Mn3O4 and cerium oxide nanozymes offer regenerative antioxidant strategies for osteoporosis and cataracts. Licochalcone A derivatives instead target fungal redox biology, while horse studies rely on SOD, malondialdehyde, and related biomarkers. The set supports antioxidant intervention but leaves the best tissue-specific targets and clinical endpoints unresolved.
4 papers · 33.3%
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Others — Redox Injury and Cancer Theranostics
Glutathione preservation and phytochemical hepatoprotection are being studied alongside iron-driven cancer treatment, with redox chemistry as the main overlap. Ulva fasciata is evaluated against cisplatin-induced liver injury through metabolic profiling and histopathology. A separate microRNA-governed Fenton platform aims to convert tumor-selective iron chemistry into combined diagnosis and therapy. These applications do not yet form a single clinical direction, and their shared mechanisms remain limited.
2 papers · 16.7%
Catalase suppression, rather than catalase enhancement, can improve oxidative killing in disease models
The licochalcone A derivative study in phytopathogenic fungi and the miRNA-governed autocatalytic Fenton nanoplatform in cancer both depart from the assumption that catalase should generally be preserved or augmented as an antioxidant defense. In Rhizoctonia solani, the active derivative was associated with decreased CAT activity during fungal injury, while in the cancer platform, miRNA-activated cleavage of catalase mRNA was deliberately used to inhibit H₂O₂ consumption and intensify Fenton-mediated cytotoxicity. Together, these independently studied systems indicate that CAT can protect pathogenic or malignant cells from oxidative killing; suppressing it can therefore be a therapeutic strategy rather than merely a marker of damage or a deficit to correct 42166962May 42017828Apr.
Papers
The 12 papers from the last 6 months that study Catalase (CAT) directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Biology (6)
- Metallotoxicity-driven oxidative perturbations in spinal cord injury: Unraveling the pathophysiological nexus between metal-induced redox imbalance and disease severity: A correlational and multivariate analysis. Molecular biology reports · 15 Sept 2026 PMID 42742870
- Electrostatically assembled gold nanocluster-enhanced porphyrinic metal-organic framework nanozymes for oxygen-boosted photodynamic therapy of hypoxic tumors. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology · 29 Jul 2026 PMID 42526281
- Gold Nanoparticles-Embedded Mn/Zn-MOF with Enhanced Antioxidant Activities for Treating Atopic Dermatitis. Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) · 13 Jul 2026 PMID 42439201
- Inflammatory, oxidative, and neurotrophic profiles in monozygotic twins discordant for pain-related TMD. Molecular biology reports · 14 May 2026 PMID 42132960
- Cross-Organ Toxicity and Metabolic Responses to Food Chain-Transferred Nanoplastics: Mechanistic Insights from a Multiomics Perspective. ACS nano · 8 May 2026 PMID 42103696
- SIRT1 protects against UVA-induced photoaging by suppressing oxidative stress and FOXO3a acetylation in human dermal fibroblasts. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology · 25 Apr 2026 PMID 42033852
Oxidative Stress in Tissue Health (4)
- Effects of Exercise on Ocular Parameters and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Saliva and Tear Fluid of Horses. Veterinary medicine and science · 12 Aug 2026 PMID 42585227
- Bone-targeted Mn3O4 nanozymes alleviate osteoporosis by remodeling the age-related oxidative stress microenvironment. Biomaterials science · 22 Jul 2026 PMID 42484352
- Design, synthesis, and antifungal activity of licochalcone A derivatives and mechanism of action against Phytopathogenic Fungi. Bioorganic chemistry · 21 May 2026 PMID 42166962
- A regenerative cerium oxide nanozyme for cataract treatment via oxidative stress regulation. Biomaterials science · 11 May 2026 PMID 42108912
Others — Redox Injury and Cancer Theranostics (2)
- Hepatoprotective effects of Ulva fasciata against cisplatin-induced liver injury in rats: GC-MS-based identification, In Silico ADME profiling, and molecular docking analysis of bioactive compounds. Computers in biology and medicine · 8 Jun 2026 PMID 42259102
- MicroRNA-Governed Autocatalytic Fenton Nanoplatform for Cancer-Selective Theranostics. ACS nano · 22 Apr 2026 PMID 42017828
By study type
Observational studies and case reports (1)
- Metallotoxicity-driven oxidative perturbations in spinal cord injury: Unraveling the pathophysiological nexus between metal-induced redox imbalance and disease severity: A correlational and multivariate analysis. Molecular biology reports · 15 Sept 2026 PMID 42742870
Human data, design not indexed (2)
- Inflammatory, oxidative, and neurotrophic profiles in monozygotic twins discordant for pain-related TMD. Molecular biology reports · 14 May 2026 PMID 42132960
- SIRT1 protects against UVA-induced photoaging by suppressing oxidative stress and FOXO3a acetylation in human dermal fibroblasts. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology · 25 Apr 2026 PMID 42033852
Preclinical: animal, cell and lab studies (9)
- Effects of Exercise on Ocular Parameters and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Saliva and Tear Fluid of Horses. Veterinary medicine and science · 12 Aug 2026 PMID 42585227
- Electrostatically assembled gold nanocluster-enhanced porphyrinic metal-organic framework nanozymes for oxygen-boosted photodynamic therapy of hypoxic tumors. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology · 29 Jul 2026 PMID 42526281
- Bone-targeted Mn3O4 nanozymes alleviate osteoporosis by remodeling the age-related oxidative stress microenvironment. Biomaterials science · 22 Jul 2026 PMID 42484352
- Gold Nanoparticles-Embedded Mn/Zn-MOF with Enhanced Antioxidant Activities for Treating Atopic Dermatitis. Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) · 13 Jul 2026 PMID 42439201
- Hepatoprotective effects of Ulva fasciata against cisplatin-induced liver injury in rats: GC-MS-based identification, In Silico ADME profiling, and molecular docking analysis of bioactive compounds. Computers in biology and medicine · 8 Jun 2026 PMID 42259102
- Design, synthesis, and antifungal activity of licochalcone A derivatives and mechanism of action against Phytopathogenic Fungi. Bioorganic chemistry · 21 May 2026 PMID 42166962
- A regenerative cerium oxide nanozyme for cataract treatment via oxidative stress regulation. Biomaterials science · 11 May 2026 PMID 42108912
- Cross-Organ Toxicity and Metabolic Responses to Food Chain-Transferred Nanoplastics: Mechanistic Insights from a Multiomics Perspective. ACS nano · 8 May 2026 PMID 42103696
- MicroRNA-Governed Autocatalytic Fenton Nanoplatform for Cancer-Selective Theranostics. ACS nano · 22 Apr 2026 PMID 42017828
Written from 12 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-06-28. Last written: 2026-09-17 by GPT. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.