title: Functional polymorphisms of GSTA1 and GSTO2 genes associated with asthma in Italian children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is an airway disorder characterized by bronchial inflammation. An imbalance between the oxidative forces and the antioxidant defense systems has been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play an important role in cellular protection against inflammation. Several studies have investigated the genetic variability of GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1 enzymes in asthma development with conflicting results. Moreover, in our previous independent case-control study on GSTs and asthma, we have found that GSTA1 and GSTO2 gene polymorphisms are associated with asthma. The aim of the present study is to analyze if some functional polymorphisms of GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTP1, GSTO2 and GSTT1 are associated with asthma in pediatric patients from Chieti (Italy).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we performed an association study on 127 asthmatic children and 126 controls. We screened single nucleotide polymorphisms at GSTA1, GSTO2 and GSTP1 loci. The effects of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotype were also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GSTA1*-69T and GSTO2*D142 variants are associated with the significant increased risk of asthma development in our study population, while GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1 genotype distributions were nearly equal between the control group and asthmatics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Confirming our previous study, these findings suggest that the GSTA1 and the GSTO2 are asthma susceptible genes involved in increasing the risk of asthma development in the Italian population.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Piacentini
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Verrotti
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Polimanti
authors: Cosimo
authors: C
authors: Giannini
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Saccucci
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Manfellotto
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Fuciarelli
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1; C492569:GSTO2 protein, human; D005982:Glutathione Transferase