Glutathione, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase in human erythrocytes and lymphocytes as a function of sex.
We review the role of glutathione (GSH) and its metabolizing enzymes, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GSR) in drug metabolism and in the elimination of foreign compounds. Levels of GSH and the activity of these enzymes may be greatly influenced by drugs and other substances in the body. We therefore determined GSH levels and the activities of GST and GSR in human erythrocytes and lymphocytes in males and females in three age groups. There was no significant difference between males and females in the three age groups in respect of GSH levels and GST and GSR activities. GSH levels in erythrocytes were higher than those in lymphocytes when expressed per mg protein, but lower than those in lymphocytes when expressed per 10(6) cells. The activities of both GST and GSR were found to be higher in lymphocytes than in erythrocytes.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors
D001798:Blood Proteins; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione