Characterization of glutathione S-transferase expression in lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease state which frequently responds to alkylating agent chemotherapy but ultimately becomes refractory through acquired resistance mechanisms. In the present study, we have examined the expression of glutathione S-transferases (GST) in both CLL and normal control lymphocytes, as these enzymes have been implicated in mechanisms of natural and acquired resistance. Lymphocyte GST was purified from samples by high-pressure liquid affinity chromatography, and subunits were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting by using polyclonal antibodies specific for individual subunits. Analysis of CLL lymphocyte GST activity using the general substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene showed a statistically significant 2-fold increase in cells from chlorambucil-resistant patients over those from untreated patients and normal individuals. Furthermore, chlorambucil therapy was seen to cause a 1.3- to 1.5-fold elevation of enzyme activity in three previously drug-naive patients. Analysis of GST isozyme subunits indicated that 95% of the CLL patients examined were positive for the pi isozyme, and this appeared quantitatively to be the major isozyme present. The alpha and mu isozymes were also expressed in 63 and 53% of the patients, respectively. Examination of control lymphocytes, as well as separated B- and T-cell subpopulations, yielded similar results. The present study indicates that a high degree of interindividual variation occurs and that the pattern of CLL lymphocyte GST expression differs from that of other tumor tissues. While there were no obvious correlations between the disease state or stage and isozymes expressed, the quantitative increase in GST activity in chlorambucil-resistant CLL patients may be of relevance to the overall resistant phenotype.