Glutathione transferases of classes α, μ and π show selective expression in different regions of rat kidney

1. Glutathione transferases (GST) are mainly cytosolic and occur in multiple forms, which can be arranged in three distinct, structural classes. The different enzyme forms show distinct substrate specificities with electrophilic and genotoxic substances. The expression of the α subunits 1, 2 and 8, the μ subunits 3, 4 and 6, and the π subunit 7 of GST in different parts of the rat kidney was determined immunohistochemically.2. GST immunoreactivity was present predominantly in the nephron, collecting duct and urothelium.3. A conspicuous finding was that subunits 1, 2 and 8 were localized to the proximal tubules, while the π subunit 3 was demonstrable in epithelial tubular cells from the distal tubules to the urothelium. The immunoreactivity of subunits 4 and 6 could be visualized in epithelial cells from the ascending thin limb to the collecting ducts. Subunit 7 was found in the thin limb of the loop of Henle, and in scattered cells in the distal tubules.4. The urothelial cells covering the papilla and the...