Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant that protects cells from reactive oxygen species. GSH is synthesized in almost all cells of the body, particularly in liver and red blood cells (RBC). Studies have shown that the rate of GSH synthesis declines during different disease conditions. Stable isotopes of amino acids have been used to determine the synthesis rate of GSH in RBC, but have never been reported in plasma. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method has been developed to determine both the concentration and isotopic enrichments of GSH in human plasma. We found that the enrichments were the same in plasma as in RBC, which suggests that RBC represents a significant source of GSH in extracellular fluid. This method is significantly more sensitive than prior methods and greatly extends our range of measurement of GSH synthesis.

Concentration and isotopic tracer measurements of glutathione in human plasma using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

244th National Meeting (2012)

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