Evidence for an age-correlated change in glutathione metabolism enzyme activities in human hair follicle.

In this investigation, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), glutathione reductase (GSSG-RD), glutathione-S-transferase (GSH-S-T), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) were measured in human hair follicle obtained by plucking as source of keratinized cells. This non-invasive method was used on 27 men and women volunteers ranging from 19 to 102 years. Our results show that GSSG-RD, GSH-S-T, gamma-GT and G6PDH activities decrease as a function of age, whereas GSH-PX activity does not vary. We discriminated 2 groups: a first one from 19 to 60 years with a large dispersion of the enzymatic activities and a second one corresponding to elderly people (up to 70) with a smaller dispersion of the values. This study suggests the keratinocytes possess an age-correlated enzymatic detoxification response potential.