Differential expression of glutathione-S-transferase isoenzymes in various types of anemia in Taiwan

Background: Published reports concerning the expression of GST in various anemias including aplastic, hemolytic, iron deficiency and thalassemia anemia has been insufficient. We improved the conventional GST assay by incorporating a chloroform treatment to remove the interference of hemoglobin and evaluated the altered expression of GSTs in various anemias in Taiwan. Methods: We incorporated a chloroform treatment to eliminate the interference of hemoglobin. Erythrocyte total GST and isoenzymes activities from 35 control subjects and 125 subjects of various anemias, including aplastic, hemolytic, iron deficiency and thalassemia anemias were measured spectrophotometrically. Results: Chloroform treatment did not significantly affect GST activities in erythrocytes of control subjects while the activities of erythrocyte total GST and α-GST were significantly increased in all anemic patients (P < 0.001). The expression of μ-GST was significantly decreased, although at a less extent, in cases of aplastic, iron deficiency and thalassemia anemia (P < 0.05), but π-GST was not physiologically different in various types of anemia. Conclusion: The determination of changes in erythrocyte GST activity is a promising indicator of oxidative stress conditions that occur in various types of anemia. Measurement of GST activity might be useful for the evaluation of prophylactic treatment in trials of antioxidant strategies.