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Glutathione: metabolism and interactions with sulfur dioxide in the lung

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6544067

The effect of SO/sub 2/ and sulfite on lung cells was investigated using a novel HPLC system to separate and quantitate glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), glutathione S-sulfonate (GSSO/sub 3/H) and cysteine S-sulfonate (CYSSO/sub 3/H). Cultured human lung cells, grown under conditions to maintain constant GSH levels, formed GSSO/sub 3/H when exposed to 0.5 mM sulfite or greater. GSH increased and GSSG decreased concurrently. Rat lung cells in culture also formed GGSO/sub 3/H when exposed to 5 mM sulfite or greater, with no change in GSH or GSSG. Sulfite did not decrease the viability of the cells significantly, nor was GSSO/sub 3/H overtly toxic to A549 cells. The time course of GSSO/sub 3/H formation was studied. SO/sub 2/ did not have as noticeable an effect on rat lung glutathione as sulfite did in cultured cells. The glutathione status was altered as 10 ppm SO/sub 2/ after four and twelve hours of exposure. No GSSO/sub 3/H was detected after SO/sub 2/ exposure. To assess the importance of GSSO/sub 3/H in lung cells, a mathematical model was constructed to determine the effect GSSO/sub 3/H could have on conjugation of BaP metabolites in lung cells.

Research Organization:
Duke Univ., Durham, NC (USA)
OSTI ID:
6544067
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English