Glutathione S-transferases GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms and asbestosis.
OBJECTIVE
In a nested case-control study, the authors investigated whether the deletion polymorphism of glutathione S-transferases GSTM1 and GSTT1 represents a risk factor for the development of asbestosis.


METHODS
In total, 262 cases with asbestosis and 265 controls, selected from a cohort of 2080 workers occupationally exposed to asbestos, were genotyped for GSTM1 and GSTT1-null alleles. Cumulative exposure for each subject was available.


RESULTS
Asbestosis was associated with cumulative exposure (odds ratio [OR]=3.21, confidence interval [CI] 2.43-4.23) and GSTT1-null genotype (OR=0.61, CI 0.40-0.94), but not with GSTM1-null genotype (OR=1.01, CI 0.71-1.43). The risk of GSTM1-null and GSTT1-null genotype for asbestosis did not change after adjustment by cumulative exposure, smoking, gender, and age.


CONCLUSIONS
An important finding of this study is that GSTT1 gene deletion might have a protective effect on the development of asbestosis.
Franko
Alenka
A
Clinical Institute of Occupational Medicine, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Dodic-Fikfak
Metoda
M
Arnerić
Niko
N
Dolzan
Vita
V
D000368:Aged; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
D005982:Glutathione Transferase