Glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms in patients with Behçet's disease

Glutathione S-Transferase M1 and T1 Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Chronic Plaque-Type Psoriasis: A Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the role of glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzyme polymorphisms as susceptibility factors in patients with psoriasis in a Turkish cohort.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In this case-control study, 105 patients with plaque-type psoriasis and 102 healthy controls were recruited from the dermatology outpatient clinics of two university hospitals. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood using a DZ DNA isolation kit. Multiplex PCR was used to determine GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms in the isolated DNAs.

RESULTS

Of the 150 patients with psoriasis, 83 (79%) were identified with the GSTT1 genotype and 22 (21%) with the null genotype. Of the 102 patients in the control group, 69 (67.6%) subjects were identified with the GSTT1 genotype and 33 (32.4%) with the null genotype. There was no significant difference between the patient and control groups (p = 0.063). Regarding the GSTM1 polymorphism, 54 (51.4%) patients were identified with this genotype and 51 (48.6%) with the null genotype; in the control group, 50 (49%) were identified with this genotype and 52 (51%) with the null genotype. Again there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.957).

CONCLUSION

In this Turkish cohort of patients with psoriasis, neither GSTT1 nor GSTM1 polymorphisms were associated with disease susceptibility. Larger studies with a wider range of GST isoenzyme are needed.

Genetics of Behçet's Disease

Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized mainly by recurrent oral and genital ulcers and eye involvement. Although the pathogenesis remains poorly understood, a variety of studies have demonstrated that genetic predisposition is a major factor in disease susceptibility. Peculiar geographical distribution of BD along the ancient Silk Road has been regarded as evidence supporting genetic influence. The observed aggregation of BD in families of patients with BD is also supportive for a genetic component in its etiology. HLA-B51 (B510101 subtype) is the most strongly associated genetic marker for BD in countries on the Silk Road. In recent years, several genome-wide association studies and genetic polymorphism studies have also found new genetic associations with BD, which may have a supplementary role in disease susceptibility and/or severity. The author reviewed the HLA and non-HLA genetic association studies.

The role of GSTM1 gene polymorphisms in lung cancer development in Turkish population

Background

Glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) plays an important role in the detoxification of many xenobiotics involved in the etiology of cancer. In different ethnic groups, variations in null allele frequency have been observed. We have investigated GSTM1 gene polymorphisms in healthy subjects and lung cancer patients in the Turkish population and reviewed the control subjects of the studies performed in the Turkish population.

Methods

Following blood sampling from patients and controls, DNA samples were extracted from the whole blood and were amplified by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in all of the 256 cases, consisting of 102 previously diagnosed with lung cancer and 154 healthy controls.

Results

The prevalence of GSTM1-null genotype in the lung cancer patients was 49%, compared to 52.6% in the control group (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 0.70–1.90, p = 0.57). There were also no significant relationships in GSTM1 genotypes among histopathologic types of lung cancers (p > 0.05). The frequency of GSTM1 was found to be 41.2% (n = 1809) when the control subjects of the studies performed in Turkish population were reviewed.

Conclusion

We have observed that GSTM1 genotype is not an independent risk factor for lung cancer.