Glutathione S-transferase in humans: development and tissue distribution

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was investigated with benzo(a)pyrene-4,5-oxide (BPO) as substrate in tissue specimens from 26 fetal and 27 adult livers and 27 placentas. The average (+/- SEM) of GST activity in the cytosol was 1.80 +/- 0.18 (fetal liver), 3.05 +/- 0.30 (adult liver) and 1.18 +/- 0.07 (placenta) nmol/min/mg. GST was also investigated in human fetal and adult lungs, kidneys and gut. In these tissues the average (+/- SEM) GST activity ranged between 0.71 +/- 0.12 (adult intestine) and 2.11 +/- 0.18 (fetal lungs) nmol/min/mg. Whereas in the fetal liver the conjugation of BPO was catalyzed at a rate of about two-thirds of the adult rate, similar or higher GST activities were found in the fetal non-hepatic tissues as compared to the adult organs. No correlation was found between the activity of the GST in fetal liver and placenta and the gestational age (11-25 weeks). GST develops before the 11th week of gestation and it does not undergo changes during the mid-gestation. No correlation was found between GST activity in adult liver and age (32-70 years).