title: Modulation of the GSTT1 activity by the GSTM1 phenotype in a sample of Italian farm-workers.
abstract: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozymes catalyze nucleophilic attack by reduced Glutathione (GSH) on a variety of electrophilic compounds and play a central role in biotransformation of xenobiotics (Hayes et al., Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 45:51-88, 2005). We performed a case-control study to evaluate the GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms and to investigate if exposure to pesticides conditions the GSTT1 activity level in 115 healthy controls and 90 farm-workers exposed to pesticides. Polymorphisms were investigated using a GSTM1 or a GSTT1-specific PCR. Enzyme activity was measured by means of DCM as co-substrate, as described by Bruhn et al. (Biochem Pharmacol 56:1189-1193, 1998). There was no significant difference between the farm-workers and the healthy controls regarding the distribution of various alleles of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes and the GSTT1 enzyme activity. In farm-workers, the GSTM1 null genotype was associated with a significant increase of GSTT1 activity, suggesting a regulative mechanism common to GSTM1 and GSTT1 enzymes after exposure to xenobiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy. Fuciarelli@uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuciarelli
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caccuri
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Francesca
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferazzoli
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piacentini
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porreca
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005838:Genotype; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010575:Pesticides; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D010575:Pesticides; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1