Interethnic and interindividual variabilities of platelet sulfotransferases activity in Italians and Finns.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to see whether there was interethnic variability in the platelet activities of catechol- and phenol sulfotransferases in Italians and Finns.


METHODS
The activities of catechol- and phenol sulfotransferases were measured in platelets obtained from 103 Italian and 74 Finnish individuals. Blood donors were obtained from healthy volunteers free from drugs and without apparent disease. The activities of catechol- and phenol sulfotransferases were measured with 60 microM dopamine and 4 microM 4-nitrophenol as substrates, respectively.


RESULTS
The activity of catechol sulfotransferase was not gender dependent and the median estimates (pmol/min/mg) were 9.10 in Italians and 6.37 in Finns (P = 0.0018). The activity of phenol sulfotransferase activity was gender dependent in Finns but not in Italians. The median estimates (pmol/min/mg) were 3.81 in Finnish men and 1.18 in Finnish women (P = 0.0007). In Italian men and women, the median estimates (pmol/min/mg) of phenol sulfotransferase activity were 1.25 and 1.24, respectively (NS).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that platelet catechol sulfotransferase activity is greater in Italians than Finns and that the activity of phenol sulfotransferase is gender regulated in Finns but not in Italians. Thus, interethnic differences exist in platelet sulfotransferases between Italians and Finns.
Brittelli
A
A
Department of Neurosciences, Medical School, University of Pisa, Italy.
De Santi
C
C
Raunio
H
H
Pelkonen
O
O
Rossi
G
G
Pacifici
G M
GM
D000328:Adult; D015239:Arylsulfotransferase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
D015239:Arylsulfotransferase