Glutathione peroxidase isoenzymes in human tumor cell lines

A set of human tumor cell lines was characterized in terms of the GPx isoenzymes GPx1, -2, -3 and -4. Semiquantitative PCR was used to investigate the GPx mRNA transcripts and the GPx activity was determined photometrically. As a result of culturing under standard conditions, diverse distribution of GPx mRNA and basic GPx activity was found in the investigated cell lines. PCR results showed nearly ubiquitous existence of the isoenzymes GPx1 and GPx4. GPx2 mRNA transcript was only detected in the colonic cell line CaCo-2. After detection of the GPx3 mRNA transcripts in most of the tested cell lines, an ELISA was performed to investigate if the GPx3 protein is present as well. However, the GPx3 protein could not be detected. Glutathione peroxidases contain the amino acid selenocysteine in their active centre. Selenocysteine contains selenium instead of sulfur in cysteine. Therefore, the influence of selenium on GPx activity and GPx isoenzyme distribution was investigated. Cell culturing with additional selenium showed a clear elevation of GPx activity in Mono Mac 6 cells but no gain of mRNA transcripts or any change in the isoenzyme's distribution.