Quantitation of glutathione S transferase-pi in the urine of preterm neonates.
BACKGROUND
Glutathione S transferases (GSTs) are widely distributed enzymes found in highly varying amounts in tissues of the human body. The enzyme GST-pi in urine has been used as a marker of renal distal tubular cell damage. The present study was intended to evaluate urinary excretion of GST-pi and its relationship to other renal markers and to the status of oxidative stress in preterm neonates.


METHODS
Levels of urinary GST-pi, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (a marker of proximal tubular damage), albumin (a marker of glomerular damage) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (a marker of oxidative stress) and serum creatinine were measured in preterm neonates at 1 and 4 weeks of age.


RESULTS
The results showed that urinary excretion of GST-pi is increased in preterm neonates compared with reported values for healthy adults. No significant relationship was detected between urinary GST-pi and other markers for renal function. Urinary GST-pi showed significantly positive correlation with urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine at 1 and 4 weeks. Sick neonates treated with supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation showed significantly higher levels of GST-pi as well as 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine than clinically stable neonates did at 4 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate the potential effect of systemic oxidative stress on urinary excretion of GST-pi. Further studies are necessary to explore the effect of oxidative conditions on expression of GST-pi in distal tubules in the human kidney.
Tsukahara
Hirokazu
H
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan. htsuka@fmsrsa.fukui-med.ac.jp
Toyo-Oka
Michiyo
M
Kanaya
Yuko
Y
Ogura
Kazumasa
K
Kawatani
Masao
M
Hata
Atsuko
A
Hiraoka
Masahiro
M
Mayumi
Mitsufumi
M
D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000652:urine; D000419:Albuminuria; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000652:urine*
D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase; D003849:Deoxyguanosine