Induction of glutathione S-transferase by prostaglandins

Exposure of cells to a wide variety of chemoprotective compounds confers resistance to a broad set of carcinogens. For a subset of the chemoprotective compounds, protection is generated by an increase in the abundance of protective enzymes such as glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). We have recently developed a cell culture system that potently responds to the phenolic antioxidants upon induction of GST activity and found that the J(2) series of PGs, 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) in particular, preferentially induces the synthesis of GSTs. The molecular mechanism underlying the 15d-PGJ(2)-induced GST expression has been elucidated.