Glutathione S-transferase in humans: development and tissue distribution

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Abstract
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).