Antioxidant defense mechanisms of endothelial cells: glutathione redox cycle versus catalase.

The importance of the glutathione (GSH) redox cycle and of catalase as intracellular antioxidant defense systems in cultured endothelial cells against an extracellular flux of H2O2, a critical mediator of polymorphonuclear leukocyte-induced oxidant injury of endothelial cells, was examined. The activities of different parts of the GSH redox cycle were impaired by 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, buthionine sulfoximine, diethyl maleate and 2-cyclohexene-1-one. Catalase activity was inhibited by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole.