Targeting therapeutics against glutathione depletion in diabetes and its complications

Abstract

Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant intracellular antioxidant, the dysregulation of which is widely implicated in disease states. There is in vitro and clinical evidence that abnormal glutathione status is involved in β-cell dysfunction and in the pathogenesis of long-term complications of diabetes. Interest has developed in the potential for therapeutic modification of glutathione status in the treatment of diabetes. There is evidence which supports the use of glutathione pro-drugs, lipoic acid and vitamin supplementation but further studies are required before these enter widespread use. Studies into the role of oxidative stress in diabetes rely heavily on the ability to measure glutathione, which has been a problematic analyte to measure in the laboratory. New electrochemical methods being developed should speed up the rate at which data can be accumulated and will help define clinical utility for its measurement.