The influence of glutathione and detoxifying enzymes on DNA damage induced by 2-alkenals in primary rat hepatocytes and human lymphoblastoid cells.

The reaction of 2-alkenals with GSH to form GSH conjugates by Michael addition is a major detoxification pathway. The reaction proceeds at a much higher rate under catalysis by glutathione S-transferase (GST) than the non-enzymatic reaction. Oxidation of 2-alkenals to the corresponding acids by cytosolic and microsomal fraction of rat liver also contributes to detoxification. Primary rat hepatocytes rich in GSH and proficient for GST and other metabolizing enzymes consume much more alkenal than human lymphoblastoid cells (Namalva cells), that are poor in GSH and in metabolic activities. In Namalva cells DNA single strand breaks were induced by much lower concentrations of acrolein, crotonaldehyde and (E)-2-hexenal than in primary rat hepatocytes. In both cell systems intracellular GSH depletion by 2-alkenals proceeds in a dose dependent manner, approaching about 20% of pretreatment level before DNA damage becomes detectable. GSH conjugates of (E)-2-hexenal and (2E,6Z)-2,6-nonadienal induce DNA damage in Namalva cells at high concentrations (1.5 mM). In the absence of GSH these conjugates decompose slowly into aldehyde and GSH. Although the rate of decomposition is only about 10(-4) times that of Michael adduct formation, such GSH conjugates could potentially function as transport molecules for 2-alkenals, if they reach tissues low in GSH and GST.