Glutathione-S-transferase, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde reductase activities during diethylnitrosamine-carcinogenesis in rat liver.

Several enzymes metabolize the toxic aldehydes produced during lipid peroxidation, such as 4-hydroxynonenal. During carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine in rat liver, an increase in aldehyde dehydrogenase, in comparison with normal liver, has already been shown. This paper demonstrates that, although to a lesser extent than aldehyde dehydrogenase, aldehyde reductase and glutathione-S-transferase also increase during carcinogenesis. Of the latter two enzymes, aldehyde reductase increases more markedly in a progressive fashion during the months of development of nodules and hepatoma. The increase of enzymes able to metabolize 4-hydroxynonenal, as well as other aldehydes, is certainly important in protecting tumour cells against cytotoxic effect of aldehydes.