Glutathione-dependent protection against oxidative injury.

Functions of GSH in detoxication during radical-induced injury in specific pathological and toxicological conditions are discussed. GSH protects against oxidative damage in systems that scavenge radicals, eliminate lipid peroxidation products, preserve thiol-disulfide status of proteins, and repair oxidant damage. Several factors which affect cellular GSH homeostasis can affect these functions, including nutritional status, hypoxia and pharmacological intervention. Evidence from a variety of pathological and toxicological conditions, e.g. ischemia-reperfusion injury, chemically induced oxidative injury, radiation damage, aging, and degenerative diseases, indicate that GSH is a primary component of physiological systems to protect against oxidant and free-radical-mediated cell injury.