SOME BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF LEUKAEMIAS - LEUCOCYTE GLUTATHIONE METABOLISM IN CHRONIC GRANULOCYTIC LEUKAEMIA

No deficiencies exist in the components of the enzyme chain responsible for the reduction of oxidised glutathione in the leucocytes of patients suffering from chronic granulocytic leukaemia. In the leucocytes of untreated patients, the levels of glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were significantly elevated, while those of glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced. Similarly, the levels of glutathione synthesising and degrading enzymes in these cells are identical to those in leucocytes taken from healthy donors, and remain unchanged by chemotherapy. © 1969.