The hepatic glutathione system--influences of xenobiotics

The hepatic glutathione (GSH) system and the influences of xenobiotics have been reviewed. Key steps in the regulation of hepatic GSH are GSH biosynthesis, the GSH-peroxidase/reductase cycle, the cystathionine pathway, and the carrier-mediated export processes. Influences of xenobiotics on these different pathways are discussed. Xenobiotics may lead to liver injury after biotransformation to highly reactive electrophilic metabolites (mainly cytochrome P-450 mediated), which easily conjugate with GSH, thus producing GSH depletion. This GSH depletion and probably an additional loss of protein sulfhydryl groups cause a disturbance of the intracellular calcium homeostasis which leads to an irreversible cell injury. The different acinar distribution of cytochromes P-450 and of GSH and GSH-related detoxication pathways points to a greater susceptibility of perivenous hepatocytes to xenobiotic-induced damage. Also, the intracellular compartmentation of GSH is important for the understanding of hepatocellular injury induced by several xenobiotics.