title: Glutathione S-transferase in humans: development and tissue distribution.
abstract: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was investigated with benzo(a)pyrene-4,5-oxide (BPO) as substrate in tissue specimens from 26 fetal and 27 adult livers and 27 placentas. The average (+/- SEM) of GST activity in the cytosol was 1.80 +/- 0.18 (fetal liver), 3.05 +/- 0.30 (adult liver) and 1.18 +/- 0.07 (placenta) nmol/min/mg. GST was also investigated in human fetal and adult lungs, kidneys and gut. In these tissues the average (+/- SEM) GST activity ranged between 0.71 +/- 0.12 (adult intestine) and 2.11 +/- 0.18 (fetal lungs) nmol/min/mg. Whereas in the fetal liver the conjugation of BPO was catalyzed at a rate of about two-thirds of the adult rate, similar or higher GST activities were found in the fetal non-hepatic tissues as compared to the adult organs. No correlation was found between the activity of the GST in fetal liver and placenta and the gestational age (11-25 weeks). GST develops before the 11th week of gestation and it does not undergo changes during the mid-gestation. No correlation was found between GST activity in adult liver and age (32-70 years).
authors: Department of General Pathology, Medical School, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors: G M
authors: GM
authors: Pacifici
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Franchi
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Colizzi
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Giuliani
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005982:Glutathione Transferase