Increased induction of apoptosis in mononuclear cells of a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient patient.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency belongs to the most common human disorders of metabolism. In affected patients generation of free radicals causes life-threatening hemolytic crises, for example, after consumption of certain drugs and foods or after infections. Rather than erythrocytes we analyzed mononuclear white blood cells of a patient suffering from G6PD deficiency with respect to their ability to enter apoptosis after treatment with daunorubicin, ionizing radiation, or dexamethasone. The induction of apoptosis was increased in G6PD-deficient cells compared to cells from eight normal donors. In parallel, the glutathione content of mononuclear cells from the G6PD-deficient patient was significantly decreased. While in affected patients decreased life span of erythrocytes damaged by oxidative stress has long been recognized as the mechanism underlying hemolysis, peripheral leukocytes have not received similar attention. Induction of apoptosis is a relatively complex process that has been linked to cellular glutathione content. This is the first report investigating G6PD deficiency and apoptosis.