Effects of culture conditions on glutathione content in A549 cells

The effects of varying culture conditions on glutathione content in A549 (human type II lung tumor derived) cells were examined. Parameters studied were growth time, serum concentration, and the presence or absence of a mixture of insulin, transferrin, and selenous acid. Glutathione content increased with serum concentration. When cells were grown with serum, glutathione increased sharply 24 hours after passage and decreased thereafter. Insulin, transferrin, and selenous acid had little effect on cell growth or glutathione content. Replacement of media with fresh media containing 10% serum did not prevent the growth dependent decrease in glutathione. These results demonstrate that glutathione content in A549 cells is strongly affected by culture conditions.