Objective   To study the regulatory effect of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (Pten) gene on the expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) gene and to explore the possible mechanisms in mou

se embryonic fibroblasts.     Methods   Northern blot was employed to measure the basal level of Cu/Zn-SOD mRNA and the expression of Cu/Zn-SOD mRNA after treatment with 0.1 mmol/L H

2

O

2

in Pten

+/+

and Pten

-/-

MEFs. Western blot was used to analyze the protein levels of phospho-AKT and Cu/Zn-SOD in Pten

-/-

MEFs treated with 30 μmol/L LY294002 for 0

0.5

1

2

6

and 24 h. Northern blot was applied to examine the mRNA level of Cu/Zn-SOD in Pten

-/-

MEFs treated with 30 μmol/L LY294002 for 0

0.5

1

2

6

and 24 h.     Results   In Pten

-/-

MEFs

the basal level of Cu/Zn-SOD mRNA decreased; the 0. mmol/L H

2

O

2

-induced expression of Cu/Zn-SOD mRNA was inhibited

and the protein level of phospho-AKT decreased at 0.5

1

2

6

and 24 h after treatment with 30 μmol/L LY294002. Correspondingly

the protein and mRNA levels of Cu/Zn-SOD increased at 0.5

1

2

6

and 24 h after treatment with 30 μmol/L LY294002.     Conclusion   Pten gene may regulate the expression of Cu/Zn-SOD gene through the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signal pathway in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.