Low glutathione and glutathione S-transferase levels in Barrett's esophagus as compared to normal esophageal epithelium.

Patients with Barrett's esophagus, wherein squamous epithelium has been replaced by columnar epithelium, have an increased risk for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma as compared to the general population. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), a family of detoxification enzymes consisting of class alpha, mu, pi, and theta isoforms, is involved in detoxification of carcinogens and low levels of these enzymes correlated with high cancer risk. We have now compared GST enzyme activity, GST isoenzyme composition and glutathione (GSH) content of Barrett's mucosa with that of adjacent normal squamous epithelium. Biopsy specimens of 98 patients with Barrett's esophagus were taken from both Barrett's and adjacent normal squamous epithelium. GST enzyme activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was measured, and GST isoenzyme levels were determined by densitometrical analyses of western blots after immunodetection with monoclonal antibodies. Total GSH content was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography after conjugation with monobromobimane. Wilcoxon's signed rank test and Spearman correlation analyses were used for statistical evaluation. As compared with adjacent normal squamous epithelium, GST enzyme activity in Barrett's epithelium was reduced by 35%, and GST mu, GST pi and GSH levels were reduced by 24%, 30%, and 63%, respectively. However, the minor GST alpha and GST theta levels were higher in Barrett's epithelium (by 625% and 33%, respectively). High levels of GSH and GSTs in general are correlated with protection against cellular or cytogenetic damage. The observed reduction in GSTs and GSH in Barrett's epithelium may therefore contribute to the increased cancer risk in this tissue.     

Induction of rat hepatic and intestinal glutathione s-transferases and glutathione by dietary naturally-occurring anticarcinogens

Effects of dietary naturally occurring anticarcinogens; quercetin, flavone, ellagic acid, ferulic acid, tannic acid, curcumin, coumarin, alpha-angelicalactone, fumaric acid and Brussels sprouts on male Wistar rat hepatic and intestinal (i) glutathione S-transferases (GST) enzyme activity, (ii) GST isozyme levels and (iii) glutathione (GSH) content were investigated. GST enzyme activity was significantly increased by all anticarcinogens tested, except fumaric acid, at least at one of the five sites investigated: proximal, middle, distal small intestine, large intestine and liver. Only alpha-angelicalactone gave an enhanced GST enzyme activity at all five sites. Large intestinal GST enzyme activity was increased only by quercetin (175%) and alpha-angelicalactone (138%). Concomitant changes in GST isozyme levels occurred. Class alpha GSTs were induced in 50% of the cases, especially in liver and upper parts of the intestine by quercetin, flavone, coumarin and alpha-angelicalactone. GST class pi levels were enhanced only at one site by quercetin, coumarin and alpha-angelicalactone. GST class mu changed in 14% of the cases, most profoundly in proximal and middle small intestine by flavone, coumarin and alpha-angelicalactone. Tannic acid and fumaric acid gave a significant raise in class alpha GSTs at almost all sites, whereas overall GST enzyme activity hardly changed. GSH was increased at various sites in 14% of the cases by Brussels sprouts, quercetin, flavone and alpha-angelicalactone. These data demonstrate that most anticarcinogens, in particular flavone, coumarin and alpha-angelicalactone, enhance GST activity in liver and intestine, mainly by induction of class alpha and mu isozymes.     

Differential activity of human, rat, mouse and bacteria glutathione transferase isoenzymes towards 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide

The conjugation capacity of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) with GSH by a number of human, rat, mouse and bacteria glutathione transferases (GSTs) was investigated. Pi and mu classes GSTs exhibited maximum conjugation capacity. Alpha class glutathione transferases as well as bacteria glutathione transferases were found to be unable to conjugate GSH to 4-NQO. The Km values as well as the catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km) for most of the GSTs investigated were also determined. Mouse liver GST MIII (class mu) was the most efficient of the various isoenzymes tested. Its Kcat/Km value was 162 times higher than that of mouse liver GST MI (class alpha). The relatively high catalytic efficiency exhibited by GST-alpha (class pi) is prevalently due to its low affinity for 4-NQO.     

Glutathione conjugation of microsome-mediated and synthetic aflatoxin B1-8,9-oxide by purified glutathione S-transferases from rats.

Glutathione (GSH) conjugation of microsome-mediated and synthetic aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-epoxide and styrene oxide has been investigated with purified GSH S-transferases (GSTs) from rats. Both styrene oxide and AFB1-epoxide were conjugated preferentially by millimicrons GSTs 3-3, 3-4 and 4-4 as compared to alpha GSTs 1-1, 1-2 and 2-2. The highest catalytic activity with styrene oxide conjugation was associated with GST 4-4. The highest catalytic activity with microsome-mediated AFB1-epoxide conjugation was observed with GST 3-3 whereas with the synthetic AFB1-epoxide conjugation was seen with GST 4-4. The catalytic activity of pi GST 7-7 was intermediate to millimicrons and alpha GSTs. It is suggested that GST 3-3 may play an important role in inactivation of AFB1-epoxide generated in vivo in the rat.     

Expression of alpha, mu and pi class glutathione S-transferases in oval and ductal cells in liver of rats placed on a choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented diet.

Expression of the alpha, mu and pi class glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) in hepatocytes, oval cells and ductal cells derived from the livers of rats placed on a choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented (CDE) diet for 5 weeks was investigated. An overall decrease in the expression of alpha and mu class GSTs and an over-expression of pi class GST was observed in the liver after CDE treatment as indicated by Northern blotting analysis. Massive disruption of the liver with oval cell infiltration in the sinusoids throughout the lobule occurred after 5 weeks CDE treatment. 'Duct-like' structures consisting of oval-like cells (ductal cells) with rounder nuclei and more cytoplasm than oval cells within the sinusoids were also apparent. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that the altered expression of GST in the whole liver is attributed to a differential expression of alpha, mu and pi class GSTs in the different cell types in the liver, including hepatocytes, oval cells around the portal region and among the sinusoids, and oval-like cells (ductal cells) in the 'duct-like' structures. In vitro studies using purified oval-ductal cells and hepatocyte populations confirmed the differential expression of GSTs in the varying cell populations in situ. The expression of the alpha and mu class GSTs in hepatocytes does not appear to be altered by the CDE diet. Heterogeneity in distribution of pi class GST was observed in the hepatocyte population, some hepatocytes were stained strongly while no staining was observed in others. Oval and ductal cells represent two distinct populations displaying different expression of GSTs. Pi class GST was detected in the majority of oval and ductal cells. Alpha class GST was detected in < 5% of the oval cell population and was found in > 50% of the ductal cell population. In contrast, mu class GST was absent in ductal cells and was present in 24% of oval cells around the portal region. This supports the view that ductal cells are not of bile ductal origin since mu GST is present in normal bile duct epithelial cells. Furthermore the change in expression of GSTs in the liver after CDE treatment is attributed to the large increase in oval and ductal cell populations.     

Expression of glutathione-s-transferase isotypes in relation to Doxorubicin sensitivity and prognosis in patients with renal-carcinoma

Specimens were obtained from the tumour and adjacent normal kidney in 29 patients with renal carcinoma. Expression of the alpha, pi and mu isoforms of gluthatione-S-transferase (GST) was estimated in formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections of the normal and neoplastic kidney following exposure to the appropriate polyclonal antibodies. binding of which was recognised by the indirect peroxidase technique. Expression of alpha, pi and mu GST in each tumour specimen was compared with the in vitro sensitivity of tumour cells to doxorubicin determined by drug inhibition of [Se-75] selenomethionine uptake by the appropriate tumour cells in culture. Expression of pi GST was associated with tumour cell resistance to doxorubicin. The level of alpha, pi and mu GST was not related to patient survival.     

Differential expression of glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in normal and malignant human breast tissues

In the present study we have compared the levels of glutathione (GSH) S-transferase, GSH peroxidase and GSH reductase in human breast tumors and adjacent normal tissues obtained from the same individuals. We have also quantitated GST pi type antigen in these samples by western blotting. GST pi activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was found to be elevated in tumors from three out of six patients (patient nos. 2, 4 and 5), whereas this activity was suppressed in tumor from patient no. 1. Results of Western blotting using antibodies raised against GST pi of human placenta were in agreement with the GST activity data. GSH peroxidase activity with cumene hydroperoxide as substrate was found to be elevated in four tumor samples (patient nos. 2, 4, 5, and 6) but suppressed in tumor from patient no. 1. On the other hand, GSH reductase activity was elevated in three samples (patients nos. 2, 4 and 5) and downregulated in the remaining three samples (patients nos. 1, 3 and 6). These results indicate that GSH-related enzymes are differentially altered in human breast tumors and GST pi type isoenzyme(s), unlike certain other human carcinomas such as colonic, are not uniformly elevated in human breast tumors.     

Influence of glutathione S-transferases on cellular glutathione determination by flow cytometry using monochlorobimane

Intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels for seven mammalian cell lines (four human tumors, two rodent, one monkey) were determined by flow cytometry following staining with monochlorobimane (MBCl), and the results were compared with GSH levels measured by the Tietze assay. The mean fluorescence intensity for all but the two rodent lines did not correlate with GSH levels determined biochemically. Good agreement between the two assays was observed for the rodent lines following depletion of GSH by buthionine sulfoximine, but the level of GSH depletion achieved in the human and monkey lines was always underestimated by MBCl/flow cytometry. These discrepancies were not resolved by increasing stain concentration or staining time. Total glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and GST isozyme profiles were determined for each of the cell lines. Western analysis with antibodies raised against rat Ya, Yb1, and Yc and human pi isozymes revealed that the rodent cell lines expressed abundant alpha (Ya, Yc subunits) and mu (Yb1 subunits) class isozymes. In contrast, GST-pi was the predominant isozyme detected in the human tumor cell lines and Cos-7 monkey cells. Michaelis-Menten analysis with purified GSTs from rat liver as well as purified human placental (pi) GST revealed that the conjugation of MBCl and GSH catalyzed by the alpha (1-1 and 2-2) and mu (3-3 and 3-4) class GST isozymes was approximately 10 and 80 times more efficient than was conjugation by the GST pi form, respectively. These data indicate that the GST-catalyzed conjugation of GSH and MBCl is isozyme dependent and that MBCl is a relatively poor substrate for the pi isozyme. As a consequence of this isozyme rate differential, the MBCl/flow cytometry technique for GSH quantitation must be applied cautiously, particularly with human tumor cells, many of which have been shown to have high GST-pi activity. Application to other cell types should also be made after careful characterization of GSH levels and GST isozyme composition and only after comparison with other independent assays of GSH concentration.     

Glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase expression in normal and tumour human tissues

Glutathione S-transferases play a central role in drug detoxification and have been implicated in the sensitivity of tumour cells to anticancer drugs. In this study, glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozyme expression in normal and tumour tissue from human lung, colon, stomach, breast, kidney and liver tissue has been quantified using sensitive and subunit specific radioimmunoassays (RIA), together with Western blot analysis and measurement of substrate metabolism. Glutathione S-transferase pi was the predominant GST in the majority of the tumours examined. The concentration of this enzyme was increased significantly in tumour tissue relative to normal lung, colon, and stomach tissue. A strong correlation was observed (r = 0.77, P less than 0.01) between GST activity and GST pi levels in those tumour samples. The concentrations of the alpha class GST, the predominant isoenzymes in normal stomach, kidney and liver, decreased dramatically in tumour tissue from these organs. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of novel polypeptides that cross-reacted with antisera raised against alpha and mu class GST. Our data demonstrates that although GST pi is the predominant GST isoenzyme in many tumours, significant levels of the other GST subunits are also present and collectively can represent a significant proportion of the GST content. Therefore the properties of all the GST isoenzymes need consideration when assessing the role of these proteins in drug resistance. Selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme activity also implicated in the mode of action of certain antitumour agents, was also studied and shown to be the predominant glutathione-dependent peroxidase in all tumours except the hepatoma.     

Glutathione, glutathione S-transferases, and related redox enzymes in Adriamycin-resistant cell lines with a multidrug resistant phenotype

Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC) selected by exposure to Adriamycin (doxorubicin) express an approximate 2.5-fold (ARN1) or 13-fold (ARN2) resistance to the drug with various degrees of cross-resistance to other anthracyclines, vinca alkaloids, and epipodophyllotoxins. Because the redox cycling of the quinone moiety of Adriamycin is known to produce oxidative stress, however, an analysis of glutathione (GSH) and related enzyme systems was undertaken in the wild-type and selected resistant cells. In ARN1 and ARN2, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities were slightly decreased, intracellular GSH and GSH reductase were essentially unchanged, and total GSH peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and DT-diaphorase activities were slightly elevated. In each case there was no stoichiometric relationship between degree of resistance and level of activity. GST isozymes were purified from each cell line by HPLC GSH affinity column chromatography. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and western blot immunoreactivity against a battery of GST isozyme polyclonal antibodies determined that both the resistant and sensitive cells expressed isozymes of the alpha, pi, and mu classes (alternative murine nomenclature: M1, M2, M3). Of significance, both ARN1 and ARN2 cell lines expressed a unique alpha subunit which was absent from the parent FLC cell line. This isozyme presumably accounted for the increased GSH peroxidase activity (cumene hydroperoxide as substrate) found in ARN1 and ARN2 and may play a role in the small incremental resistance to melphalan found for both resistant lines. Expression of the isozyme was not stoichiometric with respect to degree of resistance. The presence of this isozyme may contribute to the resistant phenotype or may be the consequence of a more general cellular response to oxidative stress.     

Glutathione transferase isoenzymes in normal and neoplastic human kidney tissue.

Glutathione transferase (GST) activity in the cytosolic fractions of renal cortex tumour was found to be significantly lower (215 +/- 156 mU/mg) than that present in the corresponding non-tumour (466 +/- 278 mU/mg) tissues. Using the immunoblotting technique, glutathione transferase isoenzymes expression in both tumour and non-tumour kidney was investigated. Alpha and pi class glutathione transferases were the most abundant enzymes in non-tumour kidney and were expressed by all samples investigated. Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that the pi class enzymes are localized mainly in the distal convoluted tubules, whereas alpha class enzymes are localized in the proximal tubules. In the tumour moiety the alpha class GST appears to be absent or expressed at low level as compared with non-tumour samples. On the contrary, no significant differences in the expression of pi class GST were found in tumour as compared with non-tumour tissues. Mu class GST protein was detected in 12 of 26 samples tested. When present, mu class GST constitutes a few per cent of total GST protein. Immunofluorescence studies indicate that mu class GSTs are localized within the distal convoluted tubules. According to the electrophoretic mobility at least two different mu GST subunits (26.5 and 27.5 kd) were found. In one sample only the faster mu class GST subunit was present, two samples expressed both types of GST subunits, whereas nine samples expressed only the slower GST subunit. With the exception of one sample, a reduction of mu class GST expression was seen in tumour as compared with non-tumour tissues. The decrease of activity seen in the cytosolic fraction of tumour kidney must be ascribed mainly to a reduction or to a lack of expression of alpha class GST and to a lesser extent of mu class GST.     

Antineoplastic drug sensitivity of human MCF-7 breast cancer cells stably transfected with a human alpha class glutathione S-transferase gene

Studies have suggested that the alpha class glutathione S-transferase (GST) may protect cells from the chemotherapeutic drugs chlorambucil and melphalan. In order to further define the function of human alpha class GST, a complementary DNA which encodes it was ligated into an expression vector under the direction of the human metallothionein-IIA promoter and stably transfected into human MCF-7 breast cancer cells in conjunction with the G418-selectable plasmid pSV2neo. Clonal cell lines were identified which expressed increased levels of GST enzyme activity (2.2- to 5.6-fold). The transfected cell lines also had increased peroxidase activity using cumene hydroperoxide as the substrate (1.9- to 3.8-fold) which is consistent with the intrinsic peroxidase activity of alpha class GSTs. Southern blot analysis indicated that genomic DNA from these cells contained a fragment indistinguishable from the transfected alpha class GST complementary DNA (850 base pairs); Northern blot analysis of total cellular RNA indicated that these cells contained appropriately sized alpha class GST RNA (980 nucleotides); and Western blot analysis indicated that, while MCF-7 cells contained no detectable alpha class GST protein, the transfected cells contained markedly elevated levels of alpha class GST but no detectable mu or pi class GST. These alpha class GST transfected cells had increased resistance to ethacrynic acid (2.1- to 3.0-fold). However, the transfected cells failed to show any increased resistance measured at the drug dosage which inhibited 50% of the colony formation to the chemotherapeutic drugs chlorambucil, melphalan, Adriamycin, or cisplatin under conditions of either continuous or 1-h drug exposure. Neither was there any change in sensitivity to the cytotoxins benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(a)pyrene-trans-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (anti), or 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. These studies indicate that expression of this human alpha class GST by itself in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells does not confer resistance to the chemotherapeutic drugs tested under the conditions used in these studies.     

Proto-oncogene ras GTPase-linked induction of glutathione-S-transferase by growth factors in PC12 cells

This report provides evidence linking activation of Ras GTPase by growth factors and induction of glutathione-S-transferase isozymes in PC12 cells. Ras GTPase was activated by EGF, NGF, insulin and phorbolester in PC12 cells. Activation of Ras GTPase was found to be associated with induction of the expression of GST mu and pi isoenzymes while there was no detectable induction of GST alpha expression. GST pi was found to be induced by all the Ras GTPase activating agents tested while activation of Ras by phorbolester and insulin induced expression of GST mu only. These results suggest a role of Ras, at least in part, in controlling the expression of GST and that there might be independent signalling pathways for the expression of different GST isoenzymes. GST activity was found to be very high (4-fold) in the lysate obtained from retinoic acid treated PC12 cells when compared with untreated cells. Induction of GST expression was found to be initiated within 30 min of retinoic acid treatment in PC12 cells reaching a maximum level at 4 h. However, immunoblot analysis showed that retinoic acid (RA), unlike mitogens/growth factors, weakly induced the expression of GST pi but not the expression of alpha, mu and microsomal GSTs. Overxpression of inhibitory polypeptides that block signals generated from Ras and Cdc42 was found to reverse the retinoic acid activation-dependent induction of GST expression in PC12 cells. These results provide evidence for the first time suggesting a novel role of Ras GTPase in the regulation of GST expression which might have a significant implication in developing drug resistance and/or growth of cancer cells.     

Expression of glutathione S-transferases and cytochrome P450 in normal and tumor breast tissue

The level of expression of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome P450s in breast tissue are potentially important determinants in both the susceptibility of this tissue to the mutagenic effects of chemical carcinogens and in the response of breast tumors to chemotherapy. In this study we have investigated the expression of these proteins in 41 tumor and surrounding normal breast tissue samples by measurement of substrate metabolism. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. In addition, we have quantitated the concentration of alpha, mu and pi class GST subunits using radioimmunoassay. All three classes of GST were expressed in breast tissue. The pi and mu class enzymes preponderate. Both the polymorphic mu class GST as well as a further form, present in all individuals, were found in high concentration. The polymorphic mu class GST was expressed in approximately 50% of the samples, which is consistent with the frequency of this polymorphism in the population and therefore does not appear to be a factor in susceptibility to this disease. Interestingly, although levels of the alpha class GST were very low, in two tumor samples extremely high levels of the B1B1 subunit were detected. Immunohistochemical studies showed significant variability in the localization of the pi class of GST between normal epithelial cells, infiltrating plasma cells and tumor cells, and in some samples GST pi appeared to be almost absent from the tumor tissue. No direct, or inverse correlation was found between GST pi concentration determined by radioimmunoassay and estrogen receptor levels. However, when studied by immunohistochemistry estrogen receptor negative tumors did tend to have higher GST pi content. The only cytochrome P450 detectable by Western blot analysis was a member of the P450IIC gene family. This was apparently distinct from the P450IIC proteins expressed in the liver and was detected in normal and tumor tissues to a similar extent.     

Immunohistochemical localization of glutathione S-transferase alpha and pi in human esophageal squamous epithelium, Barrett's epithelium and carcinoma.

High tissue levels of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), a family of detoxification enzymes, are inversely correlated with cancer risk in the human gastrointestinal tract. Patients with Barrett's esophagus, wherein squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium, have an increased risk for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. Biochemical analyses revealed that Barrett's epithelium contains lower levels of GST enzyme activity as well as some GST isoforms, as compared with squamous epithelium. So far, little information on the immunohistochemical distribution of the GST alpha and pi isoforms in normal squamous epithelium, in Barrett's metaplastic epithelium or in adeno- and squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus is available. Tissues were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. Three 4 microm thick sections were used for hematoxylin and eosin staining and for immunostaining with antibodies against GST alpha and pi. GST alpha and pi were seen in normal squamous epithelium (0% and 75%, respectively), Barrett's epithelium (75% and 100%), adenocarcinoma (25% and 100) and squamous cell carcinoma (27% and 91%). Staining was mainly cytoplasmic, though some nuclear staining with the GST pi antibody was apparent. The varying expression of GST alpha and pi in normal and (pre)neoplastic esophagus may have consequences for the treatment of these diseases and may contribute to an understanding of the development of these esophageal disorders.     

Specificity of murine glutathione S-transferase isozymes in the glutathione conjugation of (-)-anti- and (+)-syn-stereoisomers of benzo[g]chrysene 11,12-diol 13,14-epoxide.

Specificities of murine glutathione (GSH) S-transferase (GST) isozymes mGSTA1-1, mGSTA2-2, mGSTA3-3 and mGSTA4-4 (alpha class), mGSTP1-1 (pi class) and mGSTM1-1 (mu class) for GSH conjugation of (-)-anti- and (+)-syn-stereoisomers of benzo[g]chrysene 11, 12-diol 13,14-epoxide (B[g]CDE), the activated metabolites of the environmental pollutant benzo[g]chrysene (B[g]C), have been determined. When GST activity was determined as a function of varying (-)-anti- or (+)-syn-B[g]CDE concentration (10-320 microM) at a fixed saturating concentration of GSH (2 mM), each isozyme obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. mGSTA1-1 was significantly more efficient than other murine GSTs in the GSH conjugation of not only (-)-anti-stereoisomer but also (+)-syn-B[g]CDE. For example, the catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) of mGSTA1-1 towards (-)-anti-B[g]CDE was approximately 2.3- to 16.6-fold higher compared with other murine GSTs. Likewise, mGSTA1-1 was approximately 2.7-, 6.7-, 4.4- and 12.4-fold more efficient than mGSTA2-2, mGSTA3-3, mGSTP1-1 and mGSTM1-1, respectively, in catalyzing the GSH conjugation of (+)-syn-B[g]CDE. Interestingly, mGSTA4-4, which also belongs to class alpha, was virtually inactive towards both stereoisomers of B[g]CDE. The results of the present study indicate that murine GSTs, especially alpha class isozymes, significantly differ in their ability to detoxify B[g]CDE stereoisomers and that mGSTA1-1 plays a major role in the detoxification of both (-)-anti- and (+)-syn-B[g]CDE, which among four B[g]CDE stereoisomers are formed from the carcinogen B[g]C as major DNA binding metabolites.     

Immunohistologic localization of alpha, mu, and pi class glutathione S-transferases in human tissues

Human alpha, pi, and mu class glutathione S-transferases (GSH S-T) have been localized immunohistologically in a variety of organs. Alpha GSH S-T are found principally in hepatocytes, proximal convoluted tubules of kidney, the deep reticular layer of the adrenal gland, interstitial cells of the testis, and oxyntic cells of the stomach. The pi GSH S-T are present in relative abundance in ductular, as opposed to parenchymal cells in the liver, pancreas, salivary glands, and kidney. The presence of mu GSH S-T in the tissues of certain patients and its absence in the same tissues from other patients has been demonstrated. The pi GSH S-T seems to be most persistently and strongly expressed in tumors but alpha GSH S-T are also found in some neoplasms whereas the mu GSH S-T are occasionally present when the other two transferases are weak or absent.     

Glutathione conjugation of trans-3,4-dihydroxy 1,2-epoxy 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene isomers by human glutathione transferases.

Each of the four stereoisomers of trans-3,4-dihydroxy 1,2-epoxy 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene [(+)- and (-)-anti-BPhDE and (+)- and (-)-syn-BPhDE] has been incubated with the human glutathione transferase (GST) isoenzymes GST A1-1, GST M1-1 and GST P1-1, representing class alpha, mu and pi respectively, and glutathione (GSH). The conjugates formed were analyzed by HPLC and the results demonstrate that all GST isoenzymes catalyze the formation of GSH conjugates of all BPhDE isomers. However, a marked variation in catalytic efficiencies was observed (0.122-1.28/mM/s). These values are considerably lower than those previously estimated for the bay-region diol epoxides of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and human GSTs. The (+)-syn and (-)-anti-BPhDE (1R,2S-epoxide absolute configuration) were in general better substrates than the corresponding 1S,2R-epoxides. In accordance with previous observations with the diolepoxides of B[a]P, GST P1-1 was highly selective towards the BPhDE isomer with 4R,3S-diol 2S,1R-epoxide absolute configuration, i.e. (-)-anti-BPhDE, whereas GST A1-1 and M1-1 preferentially catalyzed the conjugation of (+)-syn-BPhDE (4R,3S-diol 2R,1S-epoxide absolute configuration). Overall, the most active isoenzyme was GST A1-1. Analysis by NMR spectroscopy of the GSH conjugates of BPhDE demonstrate that the reaction with GSH generally takes place by trans-addition of the thiol group at the benzylic C-1 carbon. The low catalytic efficiencies of human GSTs with BPhDE as compared to diolepoxides of B[a]P may be explained in part by the more crowded bay-region and substantially lower chemical reactivity (e.g. delta Edeloc/beta) of the former compounds.     

Glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes and glutathione peroxidase activity in normal and tumour samples from human lung

An increasing body of evidence suggests that glutathione-dependent enzymes are an important factor in determining the sensitivity of tumours to cytotoxic drugs. Ten randomized normal and tumour samples from individuals with lung cancer were analysed for glutathione S-transferase isoenzyme (GST) content and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) activity. The normal tissue samples exhibited a 5.1- and 7.0-fold variation in GST and Gpx activity respectively. High levels of the pi class, acidic Yf, GST subunit were found in all the samples, with little variation between individuals. The concentration of alpha and mu class subunits was 5- to 10-fold lower and were subject to significant individual variability. The mu class subunit identified had a faster mobility on SDS-PAGE than the hepatic GST mu standard and did not appear subject to the genetic polymorphism associated with certain members of this gene family. This suggests the presence of a novel pulmonary protein which may correspond to the rat Yn Yn protein. The normal to tumour ratio for GST activity varied significantly between the samples and tended to follow the relative expression of the mu class subunit, and to a lesser extent the alpha class GST subunit. The pi subunit was present in the normal and tumour cells in very similar concentration. The expression of the mu class GST appeared to follow the differences in GST enzymic activity and although the numbers were small appeared to segregate according to tumour type. Gpx activity was also elevated in certain tumours. Of particular interest were the two adenocarcinomas which had a 20- to 30-fold higher tumour Gpx activity.     

The spontaneous and glutathione S-transferase-mediated reaction of chlorambucil with glutathione

Incubation of 100 microM chlorambucil (CMB) with 1 mM glutathione (GSH) in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer yielded a mixture of GSH conjugates and hydrolytic products that were separable by HPLC. The appearance in HPLC analysis of four of these products was GSH-dependent. 35S-Label from 35S-GSH eluted with all four chemical species that also gave UV spectra characteristic of CMB-containing compounds. Mass spectral analysis of three of these compounds gave molecular weights consistent with the following adducts: adduct 2: diglutathionyl CMB; adduct 3: monohydroxy monochloroglutathionyl CMB; adduct 4: monochloro monoglutathionyl CMB. Purified GST alpha and partially pure GST pi and mu class protein prepared from adult male mouse liver cytosol significantly increased the formation of the monoglutathionyl CMB adduct. At 5 min incubations, this adduct was quantitatively most important and was increased 4.4-fold by the addition of GST alpha isozymes. At 1 hr incubations, all four adducts were measurable, although enzymes primarily affected the formation of adduct 4. At 1 hr, addition of GST alpha, pi, or mu protein increased the production of monochloro monoglutathionyl CMB 2-fold, 1.5-fold, and 1.7-fold, respectively, demonstrating that CMB is indeed a substrate for GST isozymes in vitro.