Modulation of glutathione level during butyrate-induced differentiation in human colon derived HT-29 cells

Glutathione plays an important role in various cellular functions including cell growth and differentiation. In the present study, cell differentiation was induced by butyrate in human colon cell line HT-29 and cellular thiol status was assessed. It was observed that butyrate-induced differentiation was associated with decrease in cellular GSH level and this was prominent at early stages of differentiation. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a specific cellular GSH depleting agent, did not induce differentiation in cells but potentiated the differentiation induced by butyrate. Both BSO and butyrate individually and together inhibited cell growth. These studies suggest that cellular GSH level is modulated in butyrate-induced differentiation and decrease of GSH at the initial stage might facilitate cellular differentiation.