Induction of lung glutathione and glutamylcysteine ligase by 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate and its glutathione conjugate: Role of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2

► The potent chemopreventive agent p-XSC selectively induces lung glutathione (GSH) levels. ► GSH enhancement involves induction of γ-glutamylcysteine ligase through activation of Nrf2. ► The GSH conjugate p-XSeSG may be the active p-XSC metabolite. ► p-XSeSG may represent a potent and less toxic alternative for glutathione induction.