Regulation of glutathione synthesising and recycling enzymes by xenobiotics in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

Neurones are prone to oxidative stress and damage due to low levels of endogenous antioxidants (both protein and non protein molecules). Hence, this work looked at the possibility of increasing the levels of antioxidants molecule in neuronal cell line. With such increase, it is thought possible that neuronal cell integrity could be improved in the face of oxidants assault. In this study ethoxyquin and t-BHQ induced gamma glutamyl cysteine ligase enzyme regulatory subunit (GLCR) and caused increase in intracellular glutathione level significantly. The increase of GSH was not accompanied by induction of GS or catalytic subunit of gamma glutamyl cysteine ligase at protein level. Co-administration of selenium as sodium selenite with other inducers of antioxidants further increased the level of intracellular glutathione. This provides a hope that inducers of endogenous antioxidants protein capable of passing blood-brain barrier might attenuate the progression of brain ageing due to genetic diseases associated with increased production of free radical