Glutathione arsenic toxicity

The exact mechanism for the toxic effects of organic arsenicals is imknown. DNA alkylation and/or inhibition of glutathione-scavenging pathways are two postulated... 

A wide variety of interactions of selenium with essential and nonessential elements, vitamins, xenobiotics, and sulfur-containing amino acids have been demonstrated in numerous studies. Selenium has been reported to reduce the toxicity of many metals including mercury, cadmium, lead, silver, and to some extent, copper (Frost 1972). Most forms of selenium and arsenic interact to reduce the toxicity of both elements (Levander 1977). Because of selenium s role in the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase enzymes, selenium also reduces the toxicity of metals in vitamin E-deficient animals (Diplock et al. 1967). 

Hirata M, Tanaka A, Hisanaga A, Ishinishi N (1990) Effects of glutathione depletion on the acute nephrotoxic potential of arsenite and on arsenic metabolism in hamsters. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 106 469-481 Hoffman JL (1980) The rate of transmethylation in mouse liver as measured by trapping S-adenosylhomocysteine. Arch Biochem Biophys 205 132-135 Hopenhayn-Rich C, Smith AH, Goeden HM (1993) Human studies do not support the methylation threshold hypothesis for the toxicity of inorganic arsenic. Environ Res 60 161-177... 

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