Is GST gene polymorphism a risk factor in developing exfoliation syndrome?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the distribution of GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms in exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and the possible associations between the presence of exfoliation syndrome and glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms.


METHODS
Using a real-time polymerase chain reaction, GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms were detected in 60 patients with exfoliation syndrome, among which 71.7% had exfoliative glaucoma (43 patients), 16.7% had XFS with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) (10 patients), and 11.7% had XFS only (7 cases), and in 65 otherwise healthy control group of similar age.


RESULTS
Although the exfoliation syndrome group presented a higher prevalence of the GSTM1 null and GSTP1 Ile/Val genotypes than the control group, this increase was not statistically significant. GSTT1 null and GSTP1 Val/Val polymorphisms were also not different among groups. The risk of exfoliation syndrome was not increased as the number of putative high-risk genotypes increase (p = 0.73).


CONCLUSIONS
GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms were not different among exfoliation syndrome patients, with or without glaucoma, and the controls therefore GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms did not seem to be associated with the risk of development of exfoliation syndrome.
Yilmaz
Ayça
A
Ophthalmology Department, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey. aycayilmaz@mersin.edu.tr
Tamer
Lülüfer
L
Ates
Nurcan Aras
NA
Yildirim
Ozlem
O
Yildirim
Hatice
H
Atik
Uğur
U
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D007527:Isoenzymes; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1; C496556:GSTP1 protein, human