Depletion of glutathione in vivo as a method of improving the therapeutic ratio of misonidazole and SR 2508

Depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) can enhance misonidazole (MISO) radiosensitizing efficacy both in vivo and in vitro. However, such treatments may also enhance the systemic toxicity in animals. The purpose of the present study was to test various ways of depleting GSH levels in a variety of experimental mouse tumors, to measure the improvement in the efficacy of MISO and its less toxic analog SR 2508 by this depletion, and to determine the effect of daily GSH depletion on the toxicity of MISO and SR 2508. GSH levels were measured daily for 5 days in tumors, livers and brains of mice injected daily with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), with or without diethylmaleate (DEM). To investigate tumor variability we studied 5 different tumors: EMT-6, RIF-1, KHT, SCC VII, and B16 melanoma. The efficacy of MISO and SR 2508 was evaluated using the KHT and SCC VII tumors either by the regrowth delay assay or by the in vivo/in vitro clonogenic assay. The drug toxicity was evaluated by weight loss and by death. Daily doses of 3 mmole/kg BSO depleted tumor levels of GSH to 20 to 40% of controls by 6 hr after each injection. Injection of DEM (300 mg/kg) 6 hr after BSO further enhanced the depletion. Administration of MISO or SR 2508 at the time of maximum GSH depletion enhanced the MISO efficacy by factors of 2.5 to 8 for depletion to 8% of controls by BSO + DEM, but no enhancement of SR 2508 was seen with tumors at 20% GSH levels achieved with BSO alone in the preliminary experiment. The chronic toxicity of MISO was enhanced not at all or by a factor of up to 2 for BSO and BSO + DEM respectively. Further studies are needed before it can be concluded that GSH depletion by BSO alone may be a useful adjunct to the clinical use of radiosensitizers.

Depletion of intracellular GSH and NPSH by buthionine sulfoximine and diethyl maleate: factors that influence enhancement of aerobic radiation response

Many investigators have observed aerobic sensitization of V79, CHO and A549 (human lung carcinoma) cells upon depletion of GSH using buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). Recently we discovered that this aerobic sensitization can be reversed if WR-2721 or N-acetylcysteine is added to the cells just prior to irradiation. Reversal requires that the exogenous thiols be present during the time of irradiation. One possible explanation was that these thiols entered the cells and either increased the pool of cellular nonprotein thiols or reversed the thiol-depleted state by stimulation of GSH synthesis. Cells treated with BSO do not readily regenerate intracellular GSH because this agent irreversibly inhibits gamma-glutamyl synthetase. For A549 monolayer cultures, there is approximately 50% regeneration 6 hr after removal of 0.01 mM BSO, 20% 6 hr after 0.1 mM BSO, and only 5% 6 hr after 0.5 mM BSO. We found that addition of WR-2721 or N-acetylcysteine to BSO-treated cells did not affect the rate of regeneration of intracellular GSH. Thus, reversal of the aerobic sensitization of A549 cells by BSO cannot be explained on the basis of intracellular thiol levels alone, or by rapid reversal of BSO inhibition. In addition, diethylmaleate (DEM)-treated cells are considerably different from BSO-treated cells with respect to the ability to regenerate GSH. After removal of DEM, A549 cells immediately begin GSH resynthesis, and return to control levels occurs within 2 hr. Exogenous 5 mM GSH increases the rate of resynthesis of GSH in DEM-treated cells, but not in BSO-treated cells.

Effect of glutathione levels, sulfate levels, and metabolic inhibitors on covalent binding of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline and 2-acetylaminofluorene to cell macromolecules in primary monolayer cultures of adult rat hepatocytes

The covalent binding of radiolabeled 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) to cell macromolecules was studied using primary monolayer cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. A time course for covalent binding was determined, and revealed similar levels of binding for both chemicals. Inhibition of glutathione synthesis by L-buthionine sulfoximine (1 mM) enhanced binding of both AAF and IQ with a greater increase observed for IQ. Addition of excess glutathione (10 mM) to the medium resulted in a slight decrease in IQ but not AAF binding. Addition of the P-450 inhibitor, 2-[2,4-dichloro-6-phenyl)-phenoxy]ethylamine (DPEA, 0.1 mM), resulted in almost total (94%) inhibition of IQ binding, with a lesser effect (42%) on AAF. Methimazole (1 mM), a competitive substrate of the flavin-containing monooxygenase, had no effect on the binding of either compound. Pentachlorophenol, an inhibitor of sulfate conjugation, decreased AAF binding substantially but produced a much smaller decrease in IQ binding. Addition of excess sulfate did not change the binding levels of either IQ or AAF. Cell density had little effect on IQ or AAF binding levels.

State of sulfhydryl in selenite cataract

A dose of 20 mumol selenite/kg body weight is a potent and a very rapid inducer of cataracts in young rats. We investigated the rate at which physiological concentrations of selenite would catalyze the oxidation of glutathione in vitro and found that selenite was a strong sulfhydryl oxidant. To test if selenite had the same effect in vivo, the oxidation state of five kinds of lenticular sulfur were measured in suckling rats following a cataractous dose of selenite. The measurements included reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), protein-bound glutathione ( PSSG ), reduced protein sulfhydryl ( PSH ), and oxidized protein sulfhydryl ( PSSP ). While selenite caused a 44% decrease in lens GSH by 6 days postinjection, there was no concurrent increase in either GSSG or PSSG . Likewise, there was no evidence for increased oxidation of PSH to PSSP . To determine if GSH loss were the cause of the selenite cataracts, we injected normal rats with the glutathione synthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). Lens GSH dropped more than 96% by 4 days post-BSO injection; however, no cataracts formed. Thus, selenite cataract does not appear to be caused by extensive sulfhydryl oxidation and cannot be attributed exclusively to GSH loss.

The effects of glutathione depletion on thermotolerance and heat stress protein synthesis

The effects of cellular glutathione depletion by buthionine sulfoximine on the development of thermotolerance and synthesis of heat stress protein was studied. Cellular glutathione levels were found to increase rapidly following an acute heat treatment of either 12 min at 45.5 degrees C or 1 h at 43 degrees C and remain elevated for prolonged periods. Glutathione depletion and prevention of glutathione synthesis by buthionine sulfoximine resulted in inhibition of the development of thermotolerance and a decrease in total protein as well as specific heat stress proteins. While the degree of inhibition of thermotolerance was similar for both glutathione depletion protocols, inhibition in heat stress protein synthesis was greater when glutathione was depleted to low levels prior to heating. The possible role of glutathione and the cellular redox state to thermotolerance and synthesis of heat stress protein is discussed.

Glutathione depletion, radiosensitization, and misonidazole potentiation in hypoxic Chinese hamster ovary cells by buthionine sulfoximine

Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) inhibits the synthesis of glutathione (GSH), the major nonprotein sulfhydryl (NPSH) present in most mammalian cells. BSO concentrations from 1 microM to 0.1 mM reduced intracellular GSH at different rates, while BSO greater than or equal to 0.1 mM (i.e., 0.1 to 2.0 mM), resulting in inhibitor-enzyme saturation, depleted GSH to less than 10% of control within 10 hr at about equal rates. BSO exposures used in these experiments were not cytotoxic with the one exception that 2.0 mM BSO/24 hr reduced cell viability to approximately 50%. However, alterations in either the cell doubling time(s) or the cell age density distribution(s) were not observed with the BSO exposures used to determine its radiosensitizing effect. BSO significantly radiosensitized (ER = 1.41 with 0.1 mM BSO/24 hr) hypoxic, but not aerobic, CHO cells when the GSH and NPSH concentrations were reduced to less than 10 and 20% of control, respectively, and maximum radiosensitivity was even achieved with microM concentrations of BSO (ER = 1.38 with 10 microM BSO/24 hr). Furthermore, BSO exposure (0.1 mM BSO/24 hr) also enhanced the radiosensitizing effect of various concentrations of misonidazole on hypoxic CHO cells.

Increased glutathione in cultured hepatocytes associated with induction of cytochrome P-450. Lack of effect of glutathione depletion on induction of cytochrome P-450 and delta-aminolevulinate synthase

Cellular glutathione concentrations in primary cultures of chick embryo hepatocytes were 15.3 +/- 5.3 nmoles/mg protein (mean +/- S.D.) and remained stable for up to 3 days in culture. The presence of insulin was not essential for the maintenance of glutathione concentrations. Induction of cytochrome P-450 by phenobarbital-like inducers (2-propyl-2-isopropylacetamide, 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide, and 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl) was accompanied by 2- to 3-fold increases in glutathione concentrations and by increased glucuronidation of phenol red. The 3-methylcholanthrene-like inducers of cytochrome P-450 (beta-naphthoflavone and 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl) did not have these effects. Glutathione was rapidly depleted to 15-30% of control levels in hepatocytes treated with buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthase. No toxicity was observed with glutathione depletion. Glutathione depletion did not affect the ability of 2-propyl-2-isopropylacetamide to induce cytochrome P-450, glucuronidation of phenol red, or delta-aminolevulinate synthase.

Glutathione redox cycle protects cultured endothelial cells against lysis by extracellularly generated hydrogen peroxide

We have examined the role of the glutathione redox cycle as an antioxidant defense mechanism in cultured bovine and human endothelial cells by disrupting the glutathione redox cycle at several points. Endothelial glutathione reductase was selectively inhibited with 1,3-bis(chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU). Cellular stores of reduced glutathione were depleted by reaction with diethylmaleate (DEM) or 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) or by inhibition of glutathione synthesis with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). Whereas several strains of untreated bovine and human endothelial cells were resistant to lysis by enzymatically generated hydrogen peroxide, BCNU-treated cells were readily lysed in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Glucose-glucose oxidase-mediated lysis of BCNU-treated bovine endothelial cells was catalase-inhibitable and directly related to BCNU concentration and endogenous glutathione reductase activity. Pretreatment of bovine endothelial cells with BCNU did not potentiate lysis by distilled water, calcium ionophore, lipopolysaccharide, or hypochlorous acid. Depletion of cellular reduced glutathione by reaction with DEM or CDNB or by inhibition of glutathione synthesis by BSO also potentiated endothelial lysis by enzymatically generated hydrogen peroxide. Inhibition of endothelial glutathione reductase by BCNU or depletion of reduced glutathione by BSO increased endothelial susceptibility to lysis by hydrogen peroxide generated by phorbol myristate acetate-activated neutrophils. We conclude that the glutathione redox cycle plays an important role as an endogenous antioxidant defense mechanism in cultured endothelial cells.

Glutathione-dependent yield and repair of single-strand DNA breaks in irradiated cells

The yield and rejoining of single-strand DNA breaks (ssb) was investigated after irradiation of cells which were deficient in glutathione (GSH) either due to a genetic defect of their GSH synthetase activity, or inhibition of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity by DL-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BSO). The results were concordant in indicating that decreased cellular GSH content is associated with an increased yield of ssb after anoxic, but not after aerobic radiation exposures. Rejoining of ssb was delayed and incomplete during a one hour's incubation period after oxic, but not after anoxic exposure of GSH-deficient cells. The defective rejoining capacity of these cells was restituted to nearly normal by the admixture of GSH-proficient cells in the incubation medium.

Cellular glutathione depletion by diethyl maleate or buthionine sulfoximine: no effect of glutathione depletion on the oxygen enhancement ratio

The hypoxic and euoxic radiation response for Chinese hamster lung and A549 human lung carcinoma cells was obtained under conditions where their nonprotein thiols, consisting primarily of glutathione (GSH), were depleted by different mechanisms. The GSH conjugating reagent diethylmaleate (DEM) was compared to DL-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of glutathionine biosynthesis. Each reagent depleted cellular GSH to less than 5% of control values. A 2-hr exposure to 0.5 mM DEM or a 4- or 24-hr exposure to BSO at 10 or 1 mM, respectively, depleted cellular GSH to less than 5% of control values. Both agents sensitized cells irradiated under air or hypoxic conditions. When GSH levels are lowered to less than 5% by both agents, hypoxic DEM-treated cells exhibited slightly greater X-ray sensitization than hypoxic BSO-treated cells. The D0's for hypoxic survival curves were as follows: control, 4.87 Gy; DEM, 3.22 Gy; and BSO, 4.30 Gy for the V79 cells and 5.00 Gy versus 4.02 Gy for BSO-treated A549 cells. The D0's for aerobic V79 cells were 1.70 Gy versus 1.13 Gy, DEM, and 1.43 Gy for BSO-treated cells. The D0's for the aerobic A549 were 1.70 and 1.20 for BSO-treated cells. The aerobic and anoxic sensitization of the cells results in the OER's of 2.8 and 3.0 for the DEM- and BSO-treated cells compared to 2.9 for the V79 control A549. BSO-treated cells showed an OER of 3.3 versus 3 for the control. Our results suggest that GSH depletion by either BSO or DEM sensitizes aerobic cells to radiation but does not appreciably alter the OER.

Transport of glutathione, as gamma-glutamylcysteinylglycyl ester, into liver and kidney

Administration of gamma-glutamylcysteinylglycyl monomethyl (or monoethyl) ester to mice leads to substantial increases in the levels of glutathione in the liver and kidney. Mice depleted of glutathione by treatment with buthionine sulfoximine, a potent inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, exhibited about a 4-fold increase in liver and kidney glutathione levels after administration of glutathione monomethyl ester. This ester also prevented the marked decline in liver glutathione level found after giving mice acetaminophen, and it protected mice from toxicity due to this compound. The findings indicate that the monomethyl and monoethyl esters of glutathione are transported into cells and hydrolyzed to glutathione. Such esters may be useful in experimental work on glutathione metabolism and function and may provide a relatively safe method for protecting cells against damage by toxic compounds, oxygen, and radiation.

Thiols, thiol depletion, and thermosensitivity

Hyperthermia sensitization or tolerance is subject to cellular events that may occur at membrane, nuclear, and cytoplasmic sites. We have studied the effects of elevated temperatures on the oxidative-reductive state of the cell by measuring and altering glutathione (GSH) concentrations. GSH plays a pivotal role in maintaining the overall cellular redox state and detoxification of peroxides. Continuous heating at 42.5 degrees C or acute exposure at 43 degrees C or 45.5 degrees C resulted in rapid elevations of cellular GSH to 120-200% of control values. Qualitatively, the more severe the heat exposure, the quicker the maximal GSH levels are attained. Ethanol, a compound that also induces thermal tolerance, likewise increases intracellular GSH concentrations. GSH depletion by two different modalities, diethylmaleate (DEM) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), results in thermal sensitization. It was demonstrated that once thermotolerance has been induced, depletion of GSH has minimal effects on subsequent heating and thermotolerance. Heat shock protein (HSP) synthesis is lessened by treatment with buthionine sulfoximine; the extent of the decrease in HSP production correlates with the decrease in thermotolerance. The exogenous thiol cysteine combined with heat treatment results in thermosensitization. Exogenous cysteine is found to oxidize to cysteine and to enhance oxygen consumption. The use of N-acetylcysteine resulted in less oxygen consumption and less thermosensitization. A proposed mechanism of peroxide-induced cell damage is suggested by exogenous thiols, as well as an involvement of GSH in the initial aspects of thermotolerance induction.

The role of thiols in cellular response to radiation and drugs

Cellular nonprotein thiols (NPSH) consist of glutathione (GSH) and other low molecular weight species such as cysteine, cysteamine, and coenzyme A. GSH is usually less than the total cellular NPSH, and with thiol reactive agents, such as diethyl maleate (DEM), its rate of depletion is in part dependent upon the cellular capacity for its resynthesis. If resynthesis is blocked by buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine(BSO), the NPSH, including GSH, is depleted more rapidly, Cellular thiol depletion by diamide, N-ethylmaleimide, and BSO may render oxygenated cells more sensitive to radiation. These cells may or may not show a reduction in the oxygen enhancement ratio (OER). Human A549 lung carcinoma cells depleted of their NPSH either by prolonged culture or by BSO treatment do not show a reduced OER but do show increased aerobic responses to radiation. Some nitroheterocyclic radiosensitizing drugs also deplete cellular thiols under aerobic conditions. Such reactivity may be the reason that they show anomalous radiation sensitization (i.e., better than predicted on the basis of electron affinity). Other nitrocompounds, such as misonidazole, are activated under hypoxic conditions to radical intermediates. When cellular thiols are depleted peroxide is formed. Under hypoxic conditions thiols are depleted because metabolically reduced intermediates react with GSH instead of oxygen. Thiol depletion, under hypoxic conditions, may be the reason that misonidazole and other nitrocompounds show an extra enhancement ratio with hypoxic cells. Thiol depletion by DEM or BSO alters the radiation response of hypoxic cells to misonidazole. In conclusion, we propose an altered thiol model which includes a mechanism for thiol involvement in the aerobic radiation response of cells. This mechanism involves both thiol-linked hydrogen donation to oxygen radical adducts to produce hydroperoxides followed by a GSH peroxidase-catalyzed reduction of the hydroperoxides to intermediates entering into metabolic pathways to produce the original molecule.

Flow cytometry techniques for studying cellular thiols

Cellular thiols, and especially glutathione, act as scavenger nucleophiles and can protect against toxicity, mutagenicity, or transformation by ionizing radiation and many carcinogens. Development of a rapid assay to quantitate the cellular content of thiols could thus be useful in assessing or predicting cellular risk to damage. Several fluorescent thiol-reactive drugs, usually maleimide or bromobimane derivatives, have been described for use in histopathology. Most of these agents do not distinguish between protein and nonprotein thiols, and virtually all of these fluorescent stains have normally been used after fixation of the cells or tissues. We have found that some of the probes will, however, rapidly penetrate and bind within viable cells with little associated cytotoxicity; the amount bound can be easily quantified using flow cytometry. We have used several of these agents, in conjunction with fluorescence-activated cell sorting in V79 spheroids, to examine the thiol content of cells as a function of their depth or position in the spheroid. Additionally, the radiation response of cells from different depths has been assessed following addition of exogenous thiols including glutathione and WR-2721, or after treatment with thiol-depleting agents, including DL-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO), diethylmaleate (DEM), and dimethylfumarate (DMF). Our studies indicate that examination of the thiol content and radiation response of the sorted cells provides an improved understanding of the modes of action of these compounds.

Radioprotection of human lymphoid cells by exogenously supplied glutathione is mediated by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase

Human lymphoid cells depleted of glutathione by treatment with buthionine sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, may be partially repleted by adding glutathione in the medium. The mechanism of repletion involves the action of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase on exogenous glutathione, transport of products of glutathione metabolism, and intracellular synthesis of glutathione. Lymphoid cells, previously shown to export glutathione at rates proportional to intracellular glutathione levels, do not take up intact glutathione to an appreciable extent, even under conditions of marked glutathione deficiency. The role of glutathione in radioprotection was examined by subjecting cells to gamma-radiation after modification of cellular glutathione levels. Glutathione-depleted cells exhibited increased radiosensitivity under aerobic conditions, as compared to the nondepleted controls. Partial repletion of cellular glutathione prior to irradiation led to radiosensitivity comparable to nondepleted controls. Cells were not protected by suspension in media containing glutathione just prior to irradiation; thus, protection appears to require intracellular glutathione.

Selective glutathione depletion on function and structure of the isolated perfused rat kidney

The role of glutathione (GSH) in the preservation of renal function and the pathogenesis of renal injury has been investigated using the isolated perfused rat kidney as a model. In kidneys perfused for 80 min with 5 mM glucose as the only exogenous substrate, tissue GSH becomes depleted, renal function deteriorates, and a degenerative change appears, restricted to the medullary thick ascending limb. These abnormalities can be ameliorated by providing amino acid supplements or by adding GSH itself to the perfusion. To distinguish between the effects of amino acid supplementation and GSH depletion per se, selective depletion of GSH was accomplished in several different ways. Synthesis of GSH was inhibited by the addition of dl-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase. GSH depletion was also produced by 2-cyclohexene-1-one and diethylmaleate, both known to diminish the concentration of GSH selectively without affecting protein thiols. Perfused kidneys selectively depleted of GSH showed significant impairment of concentrating ability, and less marked decreases in tubular reabsorption of sodium. The degenerative changes in the medullary thick ascending limb, on the other hand, were unaltered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The role of glutathione turnover in the apparent renal secretion of cystine

Previous studies with cystinuric dogs and humans have demonstrated that the amount of cystine excreted in the urine is, in some cases, larger than the amount of cystine removed from the plasma by glomerular filtration. It was concluded that the kidney must secrete cystine into the renal tubule. The present studies indicate that renal glutathione turnover constitutes a mechanism of cystine secretion which may account for a large fraction of the cystine burden in the mouse renal tubule. Mice administered L-arginine or L-lysine, inhibitors of cystine transport, excrete large amounts of cystine in their urine (approximately 15 mumol of cystine/mg of creatine). If the mice are pretreated with buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutathione biosynthesis, glutathione turnover is substantially decreased, and the arginine- or lysine-induced cystinuria is reduced by 43 to 55%. The plasma cystine concentration following arginine or lysine administration is reduced less than 15% by buthionine sulfoximine. These findings suggest the in vivo operation of a cycle in which glutathione, synthesized from cysteine intracellularly, is transported into the tubule and oxidized to glutathione disulfide. Subsequent breakdown of glutathione disulfide by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and dipeptidase releases cystine within the tubule. In the absence of cystine transport defects or inhibitors, cystine is reabsorbed and reduced intracellularly to cysteine.

Glutathione export by human lymphoid cells: depletion of glutathione by inhibition of its synthesis decreases export and increases sensitivity to irradiation

Glutathione (in the form of GSH) is transported out of cultured human lymphoid cells at rates proportional to the intracellular glutathione levels. Inhibition of glutathione synthesis by buthionine sulfoximine, a potent selective inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, leads to exponential decrease in intracellular glutathione, a large fraction of which appears extracellularly, indicating that glutathione turnover is associated with its export. Although cells with 0.09 mM glutathione (4% of controls) were 85% viable, further decrease was associated with marked loss of viability. Cells with 4-5% of control glutathione levels were much more sensitive than control cells to the effects of gamma radiation and of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate). Depletion of glutathione by use of buthionine sulfoximine has advantages over other reagents (such as diamide, other oxidizing agents, and diethylmaleate, which affect other cellular components and may increase glutathione disulfide levels) and therefore has potential usefulness in sensitizing cells to the effects of radiation and to therapeutic agents that are detoxified by reactions involving glutathione.

Depletion of glutathione selectively inhibits synthesis of leukotriene C by macrophages

We have examined the role of glutathione synthesis and intracellular glutathione content in the formation of leukotriene C (LTC) by mouse peritoneal macrophages. For this purpose, we utilized the drug buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis. Thirty minutes after the addition of BSO (200 microM) to macrophage cultures, when glutathione synthesis was inhibited approximately 80%, the cells responded to a zymosan challenge with a normal release of LTC. During this period, intracellular glutathione stores were not significantly depleted. Cells exposed to BSO for 2 hr or more exhibited marked decreases in glutathione levels and a progressive inhibition of LTC synthesis. After exposure to BSO for 16 hr, intracellular glutathione was undetectable, and no LTC was synthesized by the cells. Treatment of macrophages with BSO for 16 hr had no effect on cell viability, phagocytosis, total release of arachidonic acid, or prostaglandin synthesis. However, an increased synthesis of hydroxyicosatetraenoic acids in BSO-treated cells compensated for the diminished production of LTC. We conclude that BSO produces a specific, time-dependent inhibition of LTC synthesis as a result of intracellular glutathione depletion. This is consistent with a biosynthetic pathway for LTC in which glutathione is a direct precursor of this arachidonic acid metabolite.

Inhibition of glutathione synthesis as a chemotherapeutic strategy for trypanosomiasis

With the expectation that trypanosomal glutathione (GSH) plays a major protective role against the endogenous oxidant stress that results form high intracellular levels of H2O2, we sought to deplete Trypanosoma brucei brucei of their GSH through inhibition of its biosynthesis. Administration of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a reversible inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, to parasitemic mice resulted in a progressive decrease in trypanosome GSH content, such that parasites isolated after 5 h or BSO treatment contained 50% of normal values. When BSO administration was continued for 18 h (intraperitoneal injection of 4 mmol/kg every 1.5 h), parasitemias temporarily cleared. When inhibitory plasma levels of BSO were maintained for about 27 h, two out of six infected mice were cured and the rest had significantly prolonged survival. These findings demonstrate the potential value of GSH depletion for the treatment of trypanosomiasis.