Description
Glutathione is an intracellular tripeptide common in all tissues, which protects the cells against oxidative processes.
Glutathione has important functions in several metabolic pathways such as activation or inhibition of enzymes, transport of molecules and at the transport of amino acids.
A very important function is stabilizing SH-groups in proteins and other molecules to maintain a reducing intracellular environment. Alterations in the glutathione status are involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases, such as reperfusion damage, liver injury, cancer, diabetes, cataract, inflammatory diseases, chronic lymphoedema, radiation damages. Altered glutathione concentrations might also be due to pollution, cigarette smoke, side effects of drugs and aging.
Most of the total cellular glutathione is reduced (GSH, in EDTA-blood approx. 90%), only a minor amount of 10% is oxidised (GSSG). This steady state is maintained by
the NADPH-dependent glutathione reductase. In case of oxidative stress, GSH is needed for several reactions of the primary and secondary anti oxidative protection.
