Glutathione S-transferase p elicits protection against H2O2-induced cell death via coordinated regulation of stress kinases.

To elucidate mechanisms underlying glutathione S-transferase p (GSTp)-mediated cellular protection against oxidative stress-induced cell death, the effect of GSTp on stress signaling pathways was investigated before and after H2O2 treatment. Under nonstressed conditions, increased expression of GSTp via a tet-off-inducible GSTp in NIH 3T3 cells increased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase 4, p38, extracellular receptor kinase (ERK), and inhibitor of kappa-kinase (IKK), and reduced phosphorylation of MAP kinase kinase 7 and Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Whereas H2O2 treatment of cells induced JNK, p38, and IKK activities, in the presence of H2O2 and elevated GSTp expression there was an additional increase in ERK, p38, and IKK activities and a decrease in JNK activity. GSTp-mediated protection from H2O2-induced death was attenuated upon inhibition of p38, nuclear factor KB, or MAP kinase by dominant negative or pharmacological inhibitors. Conversely, expression of a dominant negative JNK protected cells from H2O2-mediated death. These data suggest that the coordinated regulation of stress kinases by GSTp, as reflected by increased p38, ERK, and nuclear factor kappaB activities together with suppression of JNK signaling, contributes to protection of cells against reactive oxygen species-mediated death.