Preventive effect of gamma-glutamylcysteinylethyl ester on immunological cell injury in isolated rat hepatocytes with anti-rat liver plasma membrane antiserum treatment.

We studied the mechanism by which γ-glutamylcysteinylethyl ester (γ-GCE), which is rapidly transported into hepatocytes and converted to reduced glutathione (GSH), prevents immunological hepatic injury. The effect of γ-GCE on cell injury, as estimated by release of transaminases from cells, and changes in phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity and of GSH, Ca 2+ , and lipid peroxide (LPO) contents were examined in isolated rat hepatocytes treated with anti-rat liver plasma membrane rabbit antiserum (ALPMA) and compared with that of GSH. γ-GCE prevented not only the release of transaminases from hepatocytes treated with ALPMA but also a decrease in GSH content, activation of PLA2, and increases in Ca 2+ and LPO contents in the damaged hepatocytes