Guinea pig liver Mu-class glutathione S-transferase M1-2 cross-reacts with antibodies to both rat Mu- and theta-class glutathione S-transferases

(S)-preferential detoxification of 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal enantiomers by hepatic glutathione S-transferase isoforms in guinea-pigs and rats

In guinea-pig liver cytosol, racemic 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal (HNE), a reactive and highly toxic product released from biomembranes by lipid peroxidation, was detoxified (S)-preferentially by GSH conjugation mediated by glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and (R)-preferentially by NAD(+)-dependent oxidation mediated by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). The GST-mediated detoxification of the HNE enantiomers proceeded at much higher rates than that mediated by ALDH in guinea-pig liver cytosol. All the major guinea-pig GSTs, A1-1, M1-1, M1-2 and M1-3*, isolated from guinea-pig liver cytosol also catalysed the (S)-preferential conjugation of the HNE enantiomers. The liver and other major tissues of guinea-pigs had no immunologically detectable level of a putative GSTA4-4 orthologue, which exists as a minor GST protein in rat, mouse and human livers and exhibits extremely high catalytic activity towards HNE. All the hepatic rat GSTs, A1-1(2), A1-3, A4-4, M1-1, M1-2 and M2-2, also catalysed the (S)-preferential conjugation of HNE enantiomers.

Mammalian class theta GST and differential susceptibility to carcinogens: a review

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are an important part of the cellular detoxification system and, perhaps, evolved to protect cells against reactive oxygen metabolites. Theta is considered the most ancient among the GSTs and theta-like GSTs are found in mammals, fish, insects, plants, unicellular algae, and bacteria. It is thought that an ancestral theta-gene underwent an early duplication before the divergence of fungi and animals and further duplications generated the variety of the other classes of GSTs (alpha, mu, phi, etc.). The comparison of the aminoacidic homologies among mammals suggests that a duplication of an ancient GST theta occurred before the speciation of mammals and resulted in the subunits GSTT1 and GSTT2. The ancestral GST theta has a dehalogenase activity towards several halogenated compounds, such as the dichloromethane. In fact, some aerobic and anaerobic methylotrophic bacteria can use these molecules as the sole carbon and energy source. The mammalian GST theta cannot sustain the growth of bacteria but still retains the dehalogenating activity. Therefore, although mammalian GST theta behaves as a scavenger towards electrophiles, such as epoxides, it acts also as metabolic activator for halogenated compounds, producing a variety of intermediates potentially dangerous for DNA and cells. For example, mice exposed to dichloromethane show a dose-dependent incidence of cancer via the GSTT1-1 pathway. Because GSTT1-1 is polymorphic in humans, with about 20% of Caucasians and 80% of Asians lacking the enzyme, the relationship between the phenotype and the incidence of cancer has been investigated extensively in order to detect GSTT1-1-associated differential susceptibility towards endogenous or exogenous carcinogens. The lack of the enzyme is related to a slightly increased risk of cancer of the bladder, gastro-intestinal tract, and for tobacco-related tumors (lung or oral cavity). More pronounced risks were found in males with the GSTT1-null genotype for brain diseases and skin basal cell carcinomas not related to sunlight exposures. Moreover, there was an increased risk of kidney and liver tumors in humans with the GSTT1-1 positive genotype following exposures to halogenated solvents. Interestingly, the liver and kidney are two organs that express the highest level of GST theta in the human body. Thus, the GSTT1-1 genotype is suspected to confer decreased or increased risk of cancer in relation to the source of exposure; in vitro studies, mostly conducted on metabolites of butadiene, confirm the protective action of GSTT1-1, whereas, thus far, experimental studies prove that the increasing risk is limited.