Thiols and radiosensitivity

The role played by non-protein (NPSH) and protein sulfhydryls (PSH) in hypoxic and aerated cell radiosensitivity was investigated using human skin fibroblasts derived from patients affected with 5-oxoprolinuria. These cells have lowered levels of the enzyme GSH-synthetase which results in a decreased concentration of glutathione. Six cell lines were studied; GM3877 and GM3878, SR and SUR from a single family and OB and AB from a French family. Only GM3877, with GSH levels of 0.6 nmoles/mg protein and NPSH levels of 4 nmoles/mg protein, was found to exhibit a reduced OER of 1.8. Experiments are now in progress to investigate the effect of depleting thiol levels with the ∫-glutamyl cysteine synthetase inhibitor DL Buthionine-SR-sulfoximine to determine if the OER is further reduced, especially in the cell line which already has a lowered OER. The results are discussed with a view toward developing a model which takes into account the role of thiols and DNA repair processes in the resistance of hypoxic cells to ionizing radiation