Immunocytochemical evidence for the expression of GST1, GST2, and GST3 gene loci for glutathione S-transferase in human lung.

Immunocytochemical studies demonstrate that significant amounts of glutathione S-transferase (GST) are associated with alveoli and bronchioles of human lung. The immunofluorescence in human lung sections was observed with the antibodies which were raised against GST psi and GST alpha-epsilon of human liver and GST pi of human placenta indicating that the isoenzymes corresponding to three gene loci, GST1, GST2, and GST3 are present in human lung. Presence of GST isoenzymes in significant amounts in bronchioles and alveoli of human lung indicate that these isoenzymes may play an important role in the detoxification of xenobiotics as well as in combating oxidative stress through glutathione peroxidase II activity.