Combined glutathione-S-transferase M1 and T1 genetic polymorphism and tacrine hepatotoxicity.
BACKGROUND
Glutathione conjugation of tacrine reactive metabolites depends in part on the activity of glutathione-S-transferases (GST), of which two isozymes (GST M1 and GST T1) are polymorphically expressed.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether GST M1, GST T1, and the combined GST M1 and GST T1 null genotypes predict individual susceptibility to tacrine hepatotoxicity, 141 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease treated with tacrine were genotyped.


RESULTS
During the treatment period, 52 patients had elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels at least three times the upper limit of normal, whereas 89 patients had normal ALT values (< or = upper limit of normal). Both groups were comparable in demographic and clinical characteristics. Twenty-eight patients were found to be GST T1-negative (20%; with a 95% confidence interval [95% CI] from 13% to 27%), and 68 patients (48%; 95% CI from 40% to 57%) were GST M1-negative. The combined GST M1-T1 null genotype was observed in 18 patients (13%; 95% CI from 7% to 18%) of whom 13 had an elevated plasma ALT at least three times the upper limit of normal during the study period. Although the cumulative percentage of elevated plasma ALT tended to be higher in the GST M1 null genotype, neither GST M1 nor GST T1 alone could predict individual susceptibility to tacrine hepatotoxicity. Multivariate Cox hazards model showed that the association of the GST M1-T1 null genotype was an independent risk factor of hepatotoxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of combined alleles M1 and T1 deficiencies in glutathione-S-transferase genes increases the susceptibility to tacrine hepatotoxicity.
Simon
T
T
Pharmacology Department, INSERM SC4, Saint Antoine University, Paris, France. Tabassome.Simon@chusa.jussieu.fr
Becquemont
L
L
Mary-Krause
M
M
de Waziers
I
I
Beaune
P
P
Funck-Brentano
C
C
Jaillon
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D013619:Tacrine / Q000009:adverse effects*
D007527:Isoenzymes; D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D013619:Tacrine; D005982:Glutathione Transferase