Glutathione S-transferases and glutathione peroxidases in doxorubicin-resistant murine leukemic P388 cells

Energy-dependent rapid drug efflux is believed to be a major factor in cellular resistance to doxorubicin (DOX). However, several recent studies have demonstrated that cellular DOX retention alone does not always correlate with its cytotoxicity and suggest that mechanisms other than rapid drug efflux may also be important. In the present study, we have compared glutathione (GSH) S-transferase (GST), selenium-dependent GSH peroxidase and selenium-independent GSH peroxidase II activities in DOX-sensitive (P388/S) and resistant (P388/R) mouse leukemic cells. The GST activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and ethacrynic acid (EA) was markedly higher in P388/R cells compared to P388/S cells. Purification of GST by GSH-affinity chromatography from an equal number of P388/S and P388/R cells revealed an increased amount of GST protein in P388/R cells. Immunological studies indicated that alpha and pi type GST isoenzymes were 1.27- and 2.2-fold higher, respectively, in P388/R cells compared to P388/S cells. Selenium-dependent GSH peroxidase activity was similar in both the cell lines, whereas selenium-independent GSH peroxidase II activity was approximately 1.36-fold higher in P388/R cells compared to P388/S cells. These results suggest that increased GSH peroxidase II activity in P388/R cells may contribute to cellular DOX resistance by enhancing free radical detoxification in this cell line.