An analysis of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and glutathione S-transferase omega-1 genes as modifiers of the cerebral response to ischemia.
BACKGROUND
Cerebral ischemia involves a series of reactions which ultimately influence the final volume of a brain infarction. We hypothesize that polymorphisms in genes encoding proteins involved in these reactions could act as modifiers of the cerebral response to ischemia and impact the resultant stroke volume. The final volume of a cerebral infarct is important as it correlates with the morbidity and mortality associated with non-lacunar ischemic strokes.


METHODS
The proteins encoded by the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and glutathione S-transferase omega-1 (GSTO-1) genes are, through oxidative mechanisms, key participants in the cerebral response to ischemia. On the basis of these biological activities, they were selected as candidate genes for further investigation. We analyzed the C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene and the C419A polymorphism in the GSTO-1 gene in 128 patients with non-lacunar ischemic strokes.


RESULTS
We found no significant association of either the MTHFR (p = 0.72) or GSTO-1 (p = 0.58) polymorphisms with cerebral infarct volume.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows no major gene effect of either the MTHFR or GSTO-1 genes as a modifier of ischemic stroke volume. However, given the relatively small sample size, a minor gene effect is not excluded by this investigation.
Peddareddygari
Leema Reddy
LR
New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at JFK Medical Center, 65 James Street, Edison, New Jersey, USA. lrpeddareddygari@solarishs.org
Dutra
Ana Virginia
AV
Levenstien
Mark A
MA
Sen
Souvik
S
Grewal
Raji P
RP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); C490476:GSTO1 protein, human; D005982:Glutathione Transferase