Radish phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase provides protection against hydroperoxide-mediated injury in mouse 3T3 fibroblasts.

Overexpression of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) genes has been reported to play an important role in protecting host cells from oxidative injury in several model systems. A radish phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (RsPHGPx) known to have high catalytic activity was applied to mouse 3T3 fibroblasts to determine the protective effects of PHGPx against oxidative injury triggered by hydroperoxides such as hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH). We observed that preincubation of cells with RsPHGPx significantly increased cell viability, reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), inhibited generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and maintained natural cell shapes after treatment with H(2)O(2), t-BHP or PCOOH, indicating that the exogenous RsPHGPx can act as an effective hydroperoxide-scavenger and may also protect target cells from oxidative damage. These results suggest the possibility for use of RsPHGPx as a therapeutic protectant.