Effect of butylated hydroxytoluene on glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase activities in rat liver

Transcriptome analysis provides new insights into liver changes induced in the rat upon dietary administration of the food additives butylated hydroxytoluene, curcumin, propyl gallate and thiabendazole

Transcriptomics was performed to gain insight into mechanisms of food additives butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), curcumin (CC), propyl gallate (PG), and thiabendazole (TB), additives for which interactions in the liver can not be excluded. Additives were administered in diets for 28 days to Sprague-Dawley rats and cDNA microarray experiments were performed on hepatic RNA. BHT induced changes in the expression of 10 genes, including phase I (CYP2B1/2; CYP3A9; CYP2C6) and phase II metabolism (GST mu2). The CYP2B1/2 and GST expression findings were confirmed by real time RT-PCR, western blotting, and increased GST activity towards DCNB. CC altered the expression of 12 genes. Three out of these were related to peroxisomes (phytanoyl-CoA dioxygenase, enoyl-CoA hydratase; CYP4A3). Increased cyanide insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidation was observed, suggesting that CC is a weak peroxisome proliferator. TB changed the expression of 12 genes, including CYP1A2. In line, CYP1A2 protein expression was increased. The expression level of five genes, associated with p53 was found to change upon TB treatment, including p53 itself, GADD45alpha, DN-7, protein kinase C beta and serum albumin. These array experiments led to the novel finding that TB is capable of inducing p53 at the protein level, at least at the highest dose levels employed above the current NOAEL. The expression of eight genes changed upon PG administration. This study shows the value of gene expression profiling in food toxicology in terms of generating novel hypotheses on the mechanisms of action of food additives in relation to pathology.

Butyl hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced oxidative stress: Effects on serum lipids and cardiac energy metabolism in rats

Recent lines of evidences indicate that several pathological conditions, as cardiovascular diseases, are associated with oxidative stress. In order to validate a butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced experimental model of oxidative stress in the cardiac tissue and serum lipids, 12 Wistar rats were divided into two groups, a control group and the BHT group, which received BHT i.p. twice a week (1500 mg/kg body weight) during 30 days. BHT group presented lower body weight gain and heart weight. BHT induced toxic effects on serum through increased triacylglycerols (TG), VLDL and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. The heart of BHT animals showed alteration of antioxidant defenses and increased concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides, indicating elevated lipoperoxidation. TG concentrations and lactate dehydrogenase activities were elevated in the cardiac muscle of BHT animals. Thus, long-term administration of BHT is capable to induce oxidative and metabolic alterations similarly to some pathological disorders, constituting an efficient experimental model to health scientific research.

Effect of thiabendazole on some rat hepatic xenobiotic metabolising enzymes

The effect of thiabendazole (TB) on some rat hepatic xenobiotic metabolising enzymes has been investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed control diet or diets containing 102-5188 ppm TB for 28 days. As a positive control for induction of hepatic xenobiotic metabolism, rats were also fed diets containing 1457 and 10,155 ppm butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Treatment with TB and BHT resulted in dose-dependent increases in relative liver weight. TB was found to be a mixed inducer of cytochrome P450 (CYP) forms in the CYP1A and CYP2B subfamilies. The administration of high doses of TB resulted in the induction of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and 7-pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase activities, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2B1 and CYP2B1/2 mRNA levels and CYP1A2 and CYP2B1/2 apoprotein levels. In contrast, BHT was a CYP2B form inducer, increasing 7-pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase activity, CYP2B1 and CYP2B1/2 mRNA levels and CYP2B1/2 apoprotein levels. Both TB and BHT induced GSH S-transferase activities towards a range of substrates. In addition, TB and BHT markedly induced GSTP1 mRNA levels, but had only a small effect on GSTT1 mRNA levels. In summary, these results demonstrate that TB induces both phase I and II xenobiotic metabolising enzymes in rat liver.

The crucial antioxidant action of schisandrin B in protecting against carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity in mice: a comparative study with butylated hydroxytoluene

A comparison between the effects of schisandrin B (Sch B) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) treatments on hepatic antioxidant status was made to identify the critical antioxidant action of Sch B involved in hepatoprotection in mice. Whereas Sch B treatment (3 mmol/kg/day x 3, p.o.) increased the hepatic mitochondrial-reduced glutathione (GSH) level, BHT treatment at the same dosage regimen decreased it. However, both Sch B and BHT increased, albeit to a different extent, the activity of mitochondrial glutathione reductase. The differential effect of Sch B and BHT treatment on hepatic mitochondrial glutathione status became more apparent after carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) challenge. Pretreatment with Sch B could sustain the hepatic mitochondrial GSH level in CCl4-intoxicated mice and protect against CCl4 hepatotoxicity. BHT pretreatment did not produce any protective effect on CCl4-induced GSH depletion in mitochondrion and hepatocellular damage. Although both Sch B and BHT treatments increased hepatic ascorbic acid (VC) level in control animals, only Sch B pretreatment sustained a high hepatic VC level in CCl4-intoxicated mice. Moreover, Sch B pretreatment prevented the CCl4-induced decrease in the hepatic alpha-tocopherol (VE) level. However, Sch B inhibited NADPH oxidation in mouse liver microsomes incubated with CCl4 in vitro, whereas BHT stimulated this oxidation. The ensemble of results suggests that the ability to sustain the hepatic mitochondrial GSH level and the hepatic VC and VE levels may represent the crucial antioxidant action of Sch B in protection against CCl4 hepatotoxicity. The possible inhibition of CCl4 metabolism by Sch B may also contribute to its hepatoprotective action.

The glutathione S-transferase supergene family: regulation of GST and the contribution of the isoenzymes to cancer chemoprotection and drug resistance

The glutathione S-transferases (GST) represent a major group of detoxification enzymes. All eukaryotic species possess multiple cytosolic and membrane-bound GST isoenzymes, each of which displays distinct catalytic as well as noncatalytic binding properties: the cytosolic enzymes are encoded by at least five distantly related gene families (designated class alpha, mu, pi, sigma, and theta GST), whereas the membrane-bound enzymes, microsomal GST and leukotriene C4 synthetase, are encoded by single genes and both have arisen separately from the soluble GST. Evidence suggests that the level of expression of GST is a crucial factor in determining the sensitivity of cells to a broad spectrum of toxic chemicals. In this article the biochemical functions of GST are described to show how individual isoenzymes contribute to resistance to carcinogens, antitumor drugs, environmental pollutants, and products of oxidative stress. A description of the mechanisms of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of GST isoenzymes is provided to allow identification of factors that may modulate resistance to specific noxious chemicals. The most abundant mammalian GST are the class alpha, mu, and pi enzymes and their regulation has been studied in detail. The biological control of these families is complex as they exhibit sex-, age-, tissue-, species-, and tumor-specific patterns of expression. In addition, GST are regulated by a structurally diverse range of xenobiotics and, to date, at least 100 chemicals have been identified that induce GST; a significant number of these chemical inducers occur naturally and, as they are found as nonnutrient components in vegetables and citrus fruits, it is apparent that humans are likely to be exposed regularly to such compounds. Many inducers, but not all, effect transcriptional activation of GST genes through either the antioxidant-responsive element (ARE), the xenobiotic-responsive element (XRE), the GST P enhancer 1(GPE), or the glucocorticoid-responsive element (GRE). Barbiturates may transcriptionally activate GST through a Barbie box element. The involvement of the Ah-receptor, Maf, Nrl, Jun, Fos, and NF-kappa B in GST induction is discussed. Many of the compounds that induce GST are themselves substrates for these enzymes, or are metabolized (by cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases) to compounds that can serve as GST substrates, suggesting that GST induction represents part of an adaptive response mechanism to chemical stress caused by electrophiles. It also appears probable that GST are regulated in vivo by reactive oxygen species (ROS), because not only are some of the most potent inducers capable of generating free radicals by redox-cycling, but H2O2 has been shown to induce GST in plant and mammalian cells: induction of GST by ROS would appear to represent an adaptive response as these enzymes detoxify some of the toxic carbonyl-, peroxide-, and epoxide-containing metabolites produced within the cell by oxidative stress. Class alpha, mu, and pi GST isoenzymes are overexpressed in rat hepatic preneoplastic nodules and the increased levels of these enzymes are believed to contribute to the multidrug-resistant phenotype observed in these lesions. The majority of human tumors and human tumor cell lines express significant amounts of class pi GST. Cell lines selected in vitro for resistance to anticancer drugs frequently overexpress class pi GST, although overexpression of class alpha and mu isoenzymes is also often observed. The mechanisms responsible for overexpression of GST include transcriptional activation, stabilization of either mRNA or protein, and gene amplification. In humans, marked interindividual differences exist in the expression of class alpha, mu, and theta GST. The molecular basis for the variation in class alpha GST is not known. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Human glutathione S-transferases

1. Multiple forms of glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes present in human tissues are dimers of subunits belonging to three distinct gene families namely alpha, mu and pi. Only the subunits within each class hybridize to give active dimers. 2. These subunits are differentially expressed in a tissue-specific manner and the composition of glutathione S-transferases in various tissues differs significantly. 3. Minor GST subunits not belonging to these three classes are also present in some tissues. 4. An ortholog of rat GST 8-8 and mouse mGSTA4-4 is selectively expressed in some human tissues including bladder, brain, heart, liver, and pancreas. This isoenzyme designated as GST 5.8 expresses several fold higher activity towards 4-hydroxy-2,3-trans-nonenal as compared to the routinely used substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene.

Glutathione S-transferases of mouse liver: sex-related differences in the expression of various isozymes

Sex-related differences in the expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozymes of mouse liver have been described. There were no apparent qualitative differences in the isoelectric focusing profiles of the GST isozymes from male and female mouse liver. Both male and female mice have at least four GST isozymes in their liver with pI values of 9.8, 8.7, 6.4 and 5.7. Kinetic, immunological, and structural properties including the N-terminal region amino acid sequences of these isozymes have been determined and they have been classified into alpha, mu, and pi classes. The most cationic isozyme (pI 9.8) belongs to the alpha class and is comparatively more abundant in female liver. The isozyme having pI 8.7 belongs to the pi class and is more abundant in male liver. The mu class GST pI 6.4 as well as the isozyme having pI 5.7 which corresponded to the a class isozyme GST 8-8 of rat liver were more abundant (about 1.5-fold) in male mouse liver as compared to the female. Interestingly, present studies reveal sex-related differences in the heat stabilities of the alpha and pi class GSTs of mouse liver. The alpha class GST pI (9.8) isolated from female mouse liver was more thermostable as compared to the corresponding enzyme from male mouse liver. On the contrary, the pi class GST (pI 8.7) from male mouse was more thermostable as compared to the corresponding enzyme from the female mouse.

t-butylated hydroxytoluene enhances intracellular levels of glutathione and related enzymes of rat lens in vitro organ culture

Studies were undertaken to investigate the effect of t-butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and related enzymes in rat ocular tissues. GSH levels were significantly enhanced when 1 microM BHT was included in the medium of rat lens cultures. BHT had a dose-dependent effect on GSH levels of lenses in cultures. Inclusion of 10 microM BHT in the culture medium resulted in a twofold increase in GSH levels of the lens within 24 hr. Increased gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity concomitant with the increased amount of [35S]methionine incorporation in GSH strongly suggested that BHT caused enhanced levels of GSH in lenses by increasing de novo biosynthesis. A significant increase was also observed in glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels of lenses in culture containing BHT in the medium. Present studies also demonstrated that rat lens expresses only the mu and pi class GST isoenzymes and both these classes of isoenzymes were elevated by BHT. Oral administration of BHT to rats also resulted in enhanced in vivo levels of GSH in lens, retina and cornea. In addition, a significant in vivo increase in the levels of GST, GSH-peroxidase, GSH-reductase, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was observed in the lens, retina, and cornea of BHT-fed rats.

Selective expression of the three classes of glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in mouse tissues

The suitability of mouse as an animal model for studying the glutathione S-transferase (GST)-mediated detoxification mechanisms has been studied by analyzing the expression of the alpha, mu, and pi classes of glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in mouse brain, heart, kidney, spleen, liver, and muscle. Individual isoenzymes from each of these tissues have been purified, characterized, and classified into the three known classes of GST. These studies demonstrate that GST isoenzymes are variably expressed in different mouse tissues, suggesting that their expression is tissue specific. A major isoenzyme, belonging to the pi class, with a pI value in the range of 8.6-9.1 and an approximate subunit Mr value of 22,500 was detected in each tissue investigated in this study. A variable number of mu class isoenzymes with subunit Mr values of 26,500 were expressed in all mouse tissues studied, except spleen and muscle. Only liver and kidney showed the expression of an alpha class isoenzyme, each having a basic pI value and subunit Mr of approximately 25,000. Another minor acidic alpha class isoenzyme, also with a subunit Mr value of 25,000, was detected in liver, kidney, and brain. While multiple GST isoenzymes were detected in all other tissues studied, only spleen showed the presence of a single isoenzyme, which belonged to the pi class. These results reveal considerable differences in the GST isoenzyme composition of mouse tissues as compared to rat and human tissues. However, several apparent similarities in mouse and human tissues exist, suggesting that the mouse model can be used to analyze the GST-mediated detoxification mechanisms in humans.

The distribution, induction and isoenzyme profile of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase in isolated rat liver parenchymal, Kupffer and endothelial cells

The distribution and inducibility of cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.19) activities in rat liver parenchymal, Kupffer and endothelial cells were studied. In untreated rats glutathione S-transferase activity with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 4-hydroxynon-2-trans-enal as substrates was 1.7-2.2-fold higher in parenchymal cells than in Kupffer and endothelial cells, whereas total, selenium-dependent and non-selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activities were similar in all three cell types. Glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells isolated from untreated rats were separated by chromatofocusing in an f.p.l.c. system: all glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes observed in the sinusoidal lining cells were also detected in the parenchymal cells, whereas Kupffer and endothelial cells lacked several glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes present in parenchymal cells. At 5 days after administration of Arocolor 1254 glutathione S-transferase activity was only enhanced in parenchymal cells; furthermore, selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity decreased in parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells. At 13 days after a single injection of Aroclor 1254 a strong induction of glutathione S-transferase had taken place in all three cell types, whereas selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity remained unchanged (endothelial cells) or was depressed (parenchymal and Kupffer cells). Hence these results clearly establish that glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase are differentially regulated in rat liver parenchymal as well as non-parenchymal cells. The presence of glutathione peroxidase and several glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes capable of detoxifying a variety of compounds in Kupffer and endothelial cells might be crucial to protect the liver from damage by potentially hepatotoxic substances.

Differences in response of glucuronide and glutathione conjugating enzymes to aflatoxin B1 and N-acetylaminofluorene in underfed rats

Changes in the hepatic drug/xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in underfed rats exposed to aflatoxin B1 and N-acetylaminofluorene were investigated. Neither carcinogen, fed at the level of 10 micrograms and 0.667 mg per 100 g body weight, respectively, over a period of 3 wk, had any significant influence on cytochrome P-450 and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in the undernourished rats. Significantly low activities of UDP-glucuronyltransferase and glutathione S-transferase were observed in food-restricted animals fed on aflatoxin B1. N-acetylaminofluorene, on the other hand stimulated both the enzyme activities in the underfed group, to as much observed in the respective well-fed treated group. UDP-Glucuronyltransferase and glutathione S-transferase in undernutrition seem to respond differently to aflatoxin B1 and N-acetylaminofluorene. Further studies are needed to assess the possible consequences of such alterations.

Glutathione S-transferases of mouse lung. Selective binding of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites by the subunits which are preferentially induced by t-butylated hydroxyanisole

Six isoenzymes of glutathione S-transferase (GST) present in mouse lung have been purified and characterized. GST I (pI 9.8) is a dimer of Mr-26,500 subunits and GST II is a heterodimer of Mr-26,500 and -22,000 subunits, and GST III (pI 7.9) and IV (pI 6.4) are dimers of Mr-24,500 subunits. GST V (pI 5.7) is a heterodimer of Mr-24,500 and -23,000 subunits, whereas GST VI (pI 4.9) is a dimer of Mr-23,000 subunits. Immunological studies indicate that the Mr-24,500 subunits present in GST III (pI 7.9) are distinct from those present in GST IV (pI 6.4) and V (pI 5.7). Structural and immunological studies provide evidence that at least five distinct types of subunits in their different binary combinations give rise to various GST isoenzymes of mouse lung. These isoenzymes express varying degrees of catalytic activities towards a wide range of electrophilic substrates including benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-oxide and benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide. The dietary antioxidant t-butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) preferentially induces GST II and III. Also, these two isoenzymes selectively bind benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) metabolites, indicating that they play an important physiological role in the detoxification of B[a]P metabolites. The preferential induction of the GST isoenzymes involved in the detoxification of activated B[a]P metabolites indicates that the anti-neoplastic activity of BHA against B[a]P-induced neoplasia in mouse lung [Wattenberg (1973) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 50, 1541-1544] may be due to the enhanced detoxification of B[a]P metabolites.

Modelling cortical cataractogenesis VIII: effects of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in reducing protein leakage from lenses in diabetic rats

Normal and streptozotocin diabetic female Wistar rats were given butylated hydroxytoluene at 0-, 0.067- or 0.50% w/w in the diet. At the end of 10 weeks, the animals were examined for weight gain or loss, general body condition, and cataracts. After death, blood was collected for measurement of serum glucose. gamma-Crystallin was determined in aqueous and vitreous humours using a radioimmunoassay. One lens from each rat was homogenized in 8 M guanidinium chloride for adenosine triphosphate analysis. In normal rats, there is a small amount of gamma-crystallin found in the vitreous humour, and an even smaller amount in the aqueous humour. Diabetes caused a 2.5-fold increase of gamma-crystallin in the aqueous humour and a five-fold increase in the vitreous humour. Diabetes also led to a significant worsening in general body condition, loss of body weight, decrease in lens adenosine triphosphate levels, and formation of cataracts. Addition of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) to the diet resulted in improved general body condition, reduction in cataracts, decrease of gamma-crystallin leakage into the vitreous humour, and weight gain. There was no effect of dietary butylated hydroxytoluene on levels of lens adenosine triphosphate. Neither the diabetic state nor treatment with butylated hydroxytoluene affected the weight of the lenses.

Manipulation of mouse organ glutathione contents. II: Time and dose-dependent induction of the glutathione conjugation system by phenolic antioxidants

After 14 days of oral butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) administration (1000 mg/kg/day) the tissue glutathione levels of male NMRI mice were increased by 74-141% in liver, lung, duodenum and intestine and after similar butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) treatment by 18-85% in the liver, lung, spleen and the gastrointestinal tract. Doses of 100 mg/kg/day significantly elevated the glutathione content in the lung (BHA, BHT), duodenum (BHA) and intestine (BHA), while 10 mg/kg/day affected only lung glutathione content (BHA). BHA treatment (1000 mg/kg/day) induced GST activities significantly (138-1335%) in all organs investigated except the spleen, i.e. liver, lung, kidney and the entire gastrointestinal tract, while a similar dose of BHT increased GST activities in the liver, duodenum, intestine and colon by 26-339%. Daily doses of 100 mg/kg/day significantly induced GST activities only in the liver (BHA, BHT), lung (BHA) and kidney (BHA). Lower doses of BHA or BHT did not significantly affect GST activities in the organs investigated (except 10 mg BHA/kg/day in the lung). Comparison of the time course of induction of the glutathione conjugation system in various organs after different doses of antioxidants indicated no change between 5 and 14 days of treatment with all doses used (1-1000 mg/kg). Only the lung glutathione level showed a tendency to increase with low dose BHA by extending the time of treatment. The time course of the liver glutathione content between single doses of 100 mg/kg BHA or BHT revealed an initial decline followed by an increase above control values 2 days (BHA) or 5 days (BHT) after the first application. The glutathione levels of the lung and the duodenum increased without a preceding decline. Only the second dose of BHT caused a temporary decrease to control values of the elevated glutathione level in the duodenum. All animals (at any dose of BHA or BHT) showed control values of serum transaminase activities. These results suggest: The induction threshold of the glutathione conjugation system in various mouse organs is greater than or equal to 100 mg/kg for BHA and BHT. Chronic administration of these compounds did not change these results (except the lung glutathione level after low dose BHA). Elevated hepatic glutathione levels might be the result of an activated synthesis caused by a preceding loss of glutathione. Chronic BHA or BHT treatment did not cause hepatotoxic effects, as evaluated by serum transaminases, in male mice.

Differential regulation of hepatic glutathione transferase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the rat

The effects of the xenobiotics, i.e. butylated hydroxytoluene, beta-naphthoflavone, isosafrole, pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, trans-stilbene oxide, 3-methylcholanthrene, phenobarbital, 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl, on rat liver cytosolic glutathione transferase and glutathione peroxidase activities have been investigated. Although the glutathione transferase isozymes (measured by the specific substrates ethacrynic acid and delta 5-androstene-3,17-dione) which have been shown to possess peroxidase activity were significantly increased, little or no increase in peroxidase activity (toward cumene hydroperoxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide or hydrogen peroxide) was observed. Likewise during a 16-day time course following the administration of Aroclor 1254 or fireMaster BP-6 (each 500 mg/kg, i.p.), potent induction of glutathione transferase activities was seen without any significant increases in peroxidase activities. In fact during the second week of the time course, there were significant decreases in selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity (toward hydrogen peroxide). The inverse regulation of these activities, i.e. the depression of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity following sustained induction of glutathione transferases, may have direct implications for the toxicity of the polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons.

Effect of 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT) on glutathione-linked detoxification mechanisms of rat ocular lens

When rats were orally administered a daily dose of 300 mg kg-1 body weight of 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT) for 4 days, about 90% increase over basal level in total glutathione (GSH) S-transferase activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was observed in ocular lens. GSH S-transferase activity in the ocular lens was also increased towards other substrates such as p-nitrobenzyl chloride and ethacrynic acid. In the rat lens, two isoenzymes of GSH S-transferase (pI 8.0 and 6.1) are present, and both of these isoenzymes are induced by BHT treatment. The quantification of GSH S-transferase protein in the control and the BHT-treated rat lenses indicates that the increase in GSH S-transferase activity in the ocular lens is due to the increased enzyme protein and not due to the activation of the enzyme. A significant increase in glutathione (acid soluble thiol) levels and glutathione reductase activity was also observed in the lenses of rats treated with BHT. Glutathione peroxidase activity and the enzymes of mercapturic acid pathway except GSH S-transferase remained unaltered by the BHT treatment.

Rat lung glutathione S-transferases: subunit structure and the interrelationship with the liver enzymes

Six forms of glutathione S-transferases designated as GSH S-transferase I (pI 8.8), II (pI 7.2), III (pI 6.8), IV (pI 6.0), V (pI 5.3) and VI (pI 4.8) have been purified from rat lung. GSH S-transferase I (pI 8.8) is a homodimer of Mr 25,000 subunits; GSH S-transferases II (pI 7.2) and VI (pI 4.8) are homodimers of Mr 22,000 subunits; and GSH S-transferases III (pI 6.8), IV (pI 6.0) and V (pI 5.3) are dimers composed of Mr 23,500 and 22,000 subunits. Immunological properties, peptide fragmentation analysis, and substrate specificity data indicate that Mr 22,000, 23,500 and 25,000, are distinct from each other and correspond to Ya, Yb, and Yc subunits, respectively, of rat liver.

Mechanism of butylated hydroxytoluene-associated modification of diethylnitrosamine-induced squamous stomach carcinoma

The metabolism of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and the effect of BHT on the metabolism of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was studied in male and female BALB/c mice to further understanding of the selective protection of BHT on the incidence of DEN-induced squamous-stomach carcinomas in female (but not in male) mice. Following intragastric administration of [14C]BHT, the antioxidant was covalently bound to tissue macromolecules. The relative distribution of this bound BHT varied with time; 8 hr after [14C]BHT administration, most of the covalently bound BHT was associated with the protein components; at 96 hr the nucleic acid components bound more BHT than did the protein components. Animals pretreated with BHT and given [14C]DEN intragastrically had lower blood levels of radioactivity and eliminated a larger percentage of DEN and/or its metabolites in the urine and as carbon dioxide than animals given [14C]DEN alone. The binding of DEN and/or its metabolites to cellular macromolecules of the squamous stomach of female animals was decreased following pretreatment with BHT. However, the BHT-associated decrease in DEN binding was also observed in the squamous stomach of male animals and in the liver of both sexes, although the tumour incidence in these target organs for DEN carcinogenesis is not modified by BHT. These results suggest that the BHT-associated decrease in the binding of DEN to DNA is of a generalized rather than a selective nature, and may be insufficient to account for the protective effect of BHT. Two parameters that were found to parallel the susceptibility of DEN target tissues to the anticarcinogenic effects of BHT were the relative degree of inhibition of DEN bound to RNA species and the relative amount of BHT bound to DNA. Thus the anticarcinogenic properties of BHT may be more complex than an induction of enzymes that detoxify the carcinogen and/or an inhibition of enzymes that activate the carcinogen with a resulting decrease in the quantity of carcinogen available for electrophilic reactions.

Synthetic antioxidants: biochemical actions and interference with radiation, toxic compounds, chemical mutagens and chemical carcinogens

Biological actions of 4 commonly used synthetic antioxidants--butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, ethoxyquin and propyl gallate--on the molecular, cellular and organ level are complied. Such actions may be divided into modulation of growth, macromolecule synthesis and differentiation, modulation of immune response, interference with oxygen activation and miscellaneous. Moreover, an overview of beneficial and adverse interactions of these antioxidants with exogenous noxae is given. Beneficial interactions include radioprotection, protection against acute toxicity of chemicals, antimutagenic activity and antitumorigenic action. Possible mechanisms of the antitumorigenic action of antioxidants are discussed. This discussion is centered around antioxidant properties which may contribute to a modulation of initiation-related events, especially their ability to interfere with carcinogen metabolism. The beneficial interactions of antioxidants with physical and chemical noxae are contrasted to those leading to unfavorable effects. These include radiosensitization, increased toxicity of other chemicals, increased mutagen activity and increased tumor yield from chemical carcinogens. At present, the latter one can most adequately be characterized as tumor promotion at least in the case of butylated hydroxytoluene. It is concluded that current information is insufficient to promote expectations as to the use of antioxidants in the prevention of human cancer.

Differential changes of glutathione S-transferase activity by dietary selenium

Dietary selenium deficiency produced increased activity of the glutathione S-transferases in the liver, kidney and duodenal mucosa. In these tissues, the residual activity of total glutathione peroxidase that included selenium-independent activity was considerably higher than that of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase. The enhanced activity of glutathione S-transferases was restored to control level 48 hr after an injection of selenite equivalent to the amount of daily selenium intake. Under the same conditions, selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity increased with time and reached 11.9, 11.6 and 46.2% of the activity in the liver, kidney and duodenal mucosa of selenium-supplemented rats, respectively, 48 hr after selenite injection, whereas total glutathione peroxidase activity was not altered except in the kidney. These differential changes of glutathione S-transferase activity were intimately related to those of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity produced by selenium depletion and repletion, suggesting that the glutathione S-transferase activity was regulated by dietary selenium. Present findings support the idea that glutathione S-transferases having selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase activity function as a substitute for selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase in selenium-deficient rats.

Comparative effect of the induction of the subunits of rat liver glutathione S-transferases by butylated hydroxytoluene

When butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was administered to rats, the smallest subunit Ya (Mr 22,000) of rat liver GSH S-transferases was found to undergo maximum induction. It is suggested that the differential induction of GSH S-transferase activities by BHT towards different substrates may be due to the differences in the induction of the constituent subunits of GSH S-transferases.