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Glutathione: A key role in skeletal muscle metabolism

  • Chapter
Oxidative Stress in Skeletal Muscle

Part of the book series: MCBU Molecular and Cell Biology Updates ((MCBU))

Summary

Glutathione (GSH) is a low-molecular-weight thiol that is redox active and mostly present in mM concentrations in mammalian cells. High activity of GSH-dependent enzymes and remarkable GSH synthesizing ability of the skeletal muscle suggest that this tissue is a significant component of the complex inter-organ GSH homoeostasis. The hypothesis that skeletal muscle is a major player in whole body GSH metabolism has also been strongly supported by studies on hepatectomized rats. In addition to the above-mentioned functions of GSH, a role of this thiol in the regulation of muscle contraction has been proposed. Myoblast GSH status has also been shown to markedly regulate the inducible activation of the redox sensitive transcription factor NF-кB. Skeletal muscle GSH levels vary depending on the metabolic profile of the tissue. In healthy human skeletal muscle fibers, the level of reduced glutathione is higher in aerobic type I fibers than in anaerobic type II fibers. Another major determinant of skeletal muscle GSH status is the state of physical activity of the tissue. Endurance and sprint training enhances, whereas immobilization down-regulates, the skeletal muscle GSH level. Factors such as the central role of GSH in the antioxidant network, lowering of skeletal muscle GSH during exercise, and certain pathophysiological conditions have generated considerable interest in the search for effective pro-GSH nutritional supplements. Among the supplements that have been tested for their ability to serve as pro-GSH agents, α-lipoate and is N-acetyl-L-cysteine hold promise for human use.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    C. K. Sen

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    C. K. Sen

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  1. C. K. Sen
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Musculoskeletal Laboratory Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 9649, Bat-Galim, Haifa, 31096, Israel

    A. Z. Reznick (Senior Lecturer and Researcher) (Senior Lecturer and Researcher)

  2. Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology, 251 Life Science Addition Membrane Bioenergetics Group, Berkeley, California, 94720-3200, USA

    L. Packer  & C. K. Sen  & 

  3. Dept. of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kuopio, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland

    C. K. Sen

  4. Dept. of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    J. O. Holloszy

  5. Dept. of Medicine, University of Liverpool, P.O. Box 147, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK

    M. J. Jackson

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© 1998 Springer Basel AG

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Sen, C.K. (1998). Glutathione: A key role in skeletal muscle metabolism. In: Reznick, A.Z., Packer, L., Sen, C.K., Holloszy, J.O., Jackson, M.J. (eds) Oxidative Stress in Skeletal Muscle. MCBU Molecular and Cell Biology Updates. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8958-2_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8958-2_8

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9844-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-8958-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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