PHOSPHOLIPID HYDROPEROXIDE GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE IN THE NORMAL HUMANKIDNEY - A POSSIBLE ROLE IN PROTECTING CELL-MEMBRANES

Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ti ssue injury. It is generally accepted that selenium-glutathione peroxi dases form an intergrated system defending the living organism against oxidative damage. Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase ( PHGPX) is thought to play a prominent role in preventing lipid peroxid ation. Indeed, the function of PHGPX is to reduce the lipophilic subst rates in membranes. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of PHGPX in normal human kidney by immunohistochemistry. The enzyme in glomeruli is mainly expressed in podocytes and parietal epithelial ce lls. In addition, PHGPX antigen was detected in tubule epithelial cell s. Therefore, these results suggest that renal epithelial cells posses s an important antioxidizing activity related to the presence of PHGPX .