[Effects of exposure to asbestos on plasma activity of glutathione S-transferases].
OBJECTIVE
To understand the effects of exposure to asbestos and GSTM1 genotypes on plasma activity of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs).


METHODS
Ninety-four workers exposed to asbestos and 51 controls were selected, and their general information, occupational history and personal behavior were collected by questionnaire. Venous blood specimen was collected from each of them and plasma was separated for detection of GSTs activity and lymphocytes for DNA extraction and GSTM1 genotyping.


RESULTS
Plasma activity of GSTs in the asbestos-exposed workers (23.0 +/- 6.9) U/L was significantly lower than that in the controls (32.6 +/- 11.8) U/L, which declined with the length of employment in asbestos industry and the increase of cumulated dose of asbestos. Stratification of workers by GSTM1 genotypes showed that plasma activity of GSTs in asbestos-exposed workers with GSTM1+/+ or GSTM1-/- were (24.0 +/- 6.1) and (22.5 +/- 7.3) U/L, respectively, lower than those in the controls with the same genotypes (38.1 +/- 13.2) and (26.8 +/- 6.6) U/L. Plasma activity of GSTs in the control workers with GSTM-/- was significantly lower than in those with GSTM+/+, and, so did in asbestos-exposed workers, but without statistically significant difference.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to asbestos could significantly decrease plasma activity of GSTs, and GSTM1 genotypes could affect on the activity of GSTs in the control workers, which was not so obvious in asbestos-exposed workers.
Yin
Yanling
Y
Ocupational Disease Department, Qingdao Municipal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong 266033, China.
Wang
Qi'en
Q
Yan
Lei
L
Zhao
Xiaohong
X
Bao
Guochun
G
Zhang
Yu
Y
Zhao
Hong
H
Chen
Yang
Y
Liu
Shijie
S
D000328:Adult; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D001194:Asbestos; D005982:Glutathione Transferase