Pharmacological investigation on the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of N-acetylcysteine in an ex vivo model of COPD exacerbation
Therefore, it is speculated to be a multi-factorial disorder, involving epigenetics, genetics, and environmental factors
Lesser-known members like GPx5, GPx6, GPx7, and GPx8 often rely on cysteine and play niche roles, such as in sperm protection (GPx5) or endoplasmic reticulum stress management (GPx7 and GPx8)
Still, high doses can act as prooxidants, meaning they might generate reactive oxygen species under certain conditions
However, it has been reported that glutathione can pass through the mono layer of Caco-2 cells without degradation [11]