title: Variable alpha-tocopherol stimulation and protection of glutathione peroxidase activity in established and malignant fibroblasts.
abstract: Studies on glutathione (GSH) metabolism in an established baby hamster kidney fibroblast cell line (BHK-21/C13) and in its polyoma virus-transformed counterpart (BHK-21/PyY) have revealed a significant stimulation of intracellular GSH peroxidase (GSHpx) activity (selenium-independent plus selenium-dependent) by alpha-tocopherol supplementation (14 microM). This stimulation was found to be much greater in the transformed cells. Other GSH-requiring enzyme activities (i.e. GSH reductase and GSH S-transferase) were unaltered by alpha-tocopherol treatment, suggesting a degree of specificity in its action on GSHpx. In unsupplemented growth media, the GSHpx activity in both cell lines was significantly decreased by oxidative stress. However, the same stress applied to the alpha-tocopherol-supplemented cells had no effect on the stimulated GSHpx activity, suggesting that some protection was afforded by the alpha-tocopherol.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry, Yanan Medical College, PRC.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Goldring
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rice-Evans
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Burdon
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Diplock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D006224:Cricetinae; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000187:drug effects*; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000187:drug effects; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione