Changes in glutathione in gastric mucosa of gastric ulcer patients.

To clarify the role of glutathione (GSH), an antioxidative substance, and its association with the gastric mucosal defense mechanism, we examined the gastric mucosal GSH and GSH-dependent enzymes in gastric ulcer patients. The subjects of this study were 10 patients with active ulcer on the lesser curvature side in the lower part of the gastric body and 11 normal controls. At the time of gastric endoscopy, gastric mucosal specimens were obtained by routine forceps biopsy from a site several millimeters apart from the ulcer margin, and these specimens were used for measurement of GSH, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S transferase (GST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP). The GSH level and the GSH-Px and GST activities in the patients with gastric ulcer were lower than those in the control group. The GSH-Px activity at the healed stage after treatment was increased compared with the pre-treatment value, while the GSH level was not markedly increased and the GST and gamma-GTP activities were similar to the pre-treatment value. The GSH level and GSH-Px activity remained decreased in the non-responder group. These results suggest that gastric mucosal GSH and GSH-dependent enzymes are closely related to the etiology and course of gastric ulcer.