Glutathione Attenuates Copper Levels and Alleviates Hepatic Injury in TX Mice.

Abstract

Wilson's disease (WD) is an inherited disorder that is characterized by abnormal copper metabolism, and treatment of this condition in the clinic focuses on promoting copper ion excretion. Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide compound whose active group is a sulfhydryl group, which is involved in many important biochemical reactions. Thus, the antioxidant and integrative detoxification effects of GSH have attracted attention. Whether GSH promotes copper ion excretion and reduces oxidative stress to alleviate WD-related liver injury is the focus of this study. Here, we used toxic milk (TX) mice as a model to study WD, and we treated these mice with GSH. We observed that GSH was effective at promoting copper excretion by TX mice. In addition, GSH has been shown to be effective in attenuating liver injury, including improving the structure and morphology of stem tissue and reducing hepatocyte necrosis. The effects of GSH on hepatic oxidative stress were determined by measuring catalase, malondialdehyde and total superoxide dismutase. The results showed that GSH could increase hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, reduce lipid peroxidation levels and attenuate liver injury. In conclusion, GSH may exert its hepatic benefits by promoting copper ion excretion and preventing oxidative stress.