Kg. Barnette et al., Glutathione S-transferase in human endometrium: Quantitation and interindividual variability in isoform content, GYNECOL OBS, 47(2), 1999, pp. 114-119
Objectives: The goals of the present study were to determine whether human
endometrium contains glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), to identify the iso
forms present (if any) and to assess the causes of any intersubject variabi
lity which was observed. Method: Hysterectomy patients (n = 32, 13 with end
ometrial carcinoma) were examined in the core study. The ability of cytosol
from these endometria to conjugate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was measure
d. Additional studies with chemical inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies to
GST pi were also performed. Results: The pattern of inhibition caused by e
thacrynic acid and cibacron blue strongly suggests substantial interindivid
ual variability in type (a and n dominant) and amount (similar to 10-fold)
of this important group of enzymes. Significantly lower GST activity was se
en in cancer patients who were smokers when compared with all other subject
s (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There are substantial interindividual differences
in the GST content of human endometrium. Furthermore, lower GST activity i
n tissues from endometrial carcinoma patients with a history of smoking may
have contributed to the neoplastic transformation of this tissue.