Activation of microsomal glutathione S-transferase in tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress of isolated rat liver.

The activation of microsomal glutathione S-transferase in oxidative stress was investigated by perfusing isolated rat liver with 1 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH). When the isolated liver was perfused with t-BuOOH for 7 min and 10 min, microsomal, but not cytosolic, glutathione S-transferase activity was increased 1.3-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively, with a concomitant decrease in glutathione content. A dimer protein of microsomal glutathione S-transferase was also detected in the t-BuOOH-perfused liver. The increased microsomal glutathione S-transferase activity after perfusion with t-BuOOH was reversed by dithiothreitol, and the dimer protein of the transferase was also abolished. When the rats were pretreated with the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol or the iron chelator deferoxamine, the increases in microsomal glutathione S-transferase activity and lipid peroxidation caused by t-BuOOH perfusion of the isolated liver was prevented. Furthermore, the activation of microsomal GSH S-transferase by t-BuOOH in vitro was also inhibited by incubation of microsomes with alpha-tocopherol or deferoxamine. Thus it was confirmed that liver microsomal glutathione S-transferase is activated in the oxidative stress caused by t-BuOOH via thiol oxidation of the enzyme.