Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the response to oxidative stress in cells depleted of glutathione (GSH).
Methods: :
Cultured lens epithelial cells were depleted of GSH by treatment with buthionine sulfoximine. The cells were then exposed to hydrogen peroxide. The activities of various antioxidative enzymes were followed. In addition, cell proliferation rates and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined.
Results: :
The reaction pattern among GSH-related antioxidative enzymes varied considerably. Preliminary runs indicate higher levels of ROS and almost unchanged cell proliferation rate in the control GSH-depleted cells, while peroxide treated cells exhibited a concentration dependent effect on the proliferation rate.
Conclusions: :
Depletion of GSH in nonstressed cells has a minor effect on several end-points. The effects of oxidative stress in GSH-depleted cells are highly diverse, indicating a discriminative function of GSH as cofactor and scavenger.
Keywords: oxidation/oxidative or free radical damage