Journal article
The concentration of glutathione in human erythrocytes is a heritable trait
Free radical biology & medicine, Vol.65, pp.742-749
12/2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2013.08.002
PMCID: PMC3859832
PMID: 23938402
Abstract
Glutathione (GSH) is a ubiquitous, redox-active, small molecule that is critical to cellular and organism health. In red blood cells (RBCs), the influence of the environment (e.g., diet and lifestyle) on GSH levels has been demonstrated in numerous studies. However, it remains unknown if levels of GSH are determined principally by environmental factors or if there is a genetic component, i.e., heritability. To investigate this we conducted a twin study. Twin studies are performed by comparing the similarity in phenotypes between mono- and dizygotic twin pairs. We determined the heritability of GSH, as well as its oxidation product glutathione disulfide (GSSG), the sum of GSH equivalents (tGSH), and the status of the GSSG/2GSH couple (marker of oxidation status, Ehc) in RBCs. In our study population we found that the estimated heritability for the intracellular concentration of GSH in RBCs was 57 %; for GSSG it was 51 %, tGSH 63 %, and Ehc 70 %. We conclude that a major portion of the phenotype of these traits is controlled genetically. We anticipate that these heritabilities will also be reflected in other cell types. The discovery that genetics plays a major role in the innate levels of redox-active species in RBCs is paradigm shifting and opens new avenues of research in the field of redox biology. Inherited RBC antioxidant levels may be important disease modifiers. By identifying the relative contributions of genes and the environment to antioxidant variation between individuals, new therapeutic strategies can be developed. Understanding the genetic determinants of these inherited traits may allow personalized approaches to relevant therapies.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The concentration of glutathione in human erythrocytes is a heritable trait
- Creators
- Thomas J van 't Erve - Interdisciplinary Program in Human Toxicology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USABrett A Wagner - Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, Radiation Oncology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAKelli K Ryckman - Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAThomas J Raife - Department of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, and The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAGarry R Buettner - Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, Radiation Oncology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Electronic address: garry-buettner@uiowa.edu
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Free radical biology & medicine, Vol.65, pp.742-749
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2013.08.002
- PMID
- 23938402
- PMCID
- PMC3859832
- NLM abbreviation
- Free Radic Biol Med
- ISSN
- 1873-4596
- eISSN
- 1873-4596
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV; United States
- Grant note
- P30 ES005605 / NIEHS NIH HHS R01 GM073929 / NIGMS NIH HHS P42 ES013661 / NIEHS NIH HHS R01GM073929 / NIGMS NIH HHS P01 HL046925 / NHLBI NIH HHS P42ES013661 / NIEHS NIH HHS UL1 TR000442 / NCATS NIH HHS P01HL46925 / NHLBI NIH HHS P30 CA086862 / NCI NIH HHS R01 CA169046 / NCI NIH HHS R01CA169046 / NCI NIH HHS 2UL1TR000442-06 / NCATS NIH HHS P30CA086862 / NCI NIH HHS P30ES05605 / NIEHS NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2013
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Epidemiology; Radiation Oncology
- Record Identifier
- 9983995133402771
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