Glutathione, the major intracellular reductant, may become rate limiting to cytotoxic lymphocyte activation and proliferation under these circumstances. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC-cys) was used to increase intracellular glutathione levels significant changes in total glutathione (58% increase) at 96 hours. 1
Glutathione acts as a nucleophilic scavenger and as an enzyme-catalyzed antioxidant in the event of electrophilic/oxidative tissue injury. Therefore, glutathione has a major role as a protector of biological structures and functions. 2
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in various cellular events including cell proliferation, apoptosis and immune responses 3 L-cysteine is converted to intracellular gluthathione acting as a scavenger of ROS. 4