title: Glutathione transferase polymorphisms and risk of endometriosis associated with polychlorinated biphenyls exposure in Italian women: a gene-environment interaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the occurrence of a gene-environment interaction between glutathione transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and GSTA1) and serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) levels. This is suggested as possible risk factors for endometriosis, a multifactorial gynecological disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study conducted from 2002 to 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome and Italian National Institute for Health, Rome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Italian women (N = 343), with laparoscopic diagnosis and histologic confirmation of the presence (cases, N = 181) or the absence (controls, N = 162) of endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genomic DNA extraction, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Determination of serum concentrations of selected PCBs by ion-trap mass spectrometry (subgroup, 63 cases and 63 controls).
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometriosis diagnosis by laparoscopy, GST genotypes, serum PCB levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The genotype distributions of GSTM1, GSTA1, and GSTP1 did not show any statistically significant difference between cases and controls. The GSTT1 null genotype was negatively associated with the disease. The GSTP1 wild-type genotype in the presence of medium-high blood levels of PCB153, total PCBs, or of high levels of PCB180 significantly increased the risk of endometriosis, suggesting a multiplicative interaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GSTs polymorphisms per se do not increase the risk of developing endometriosis. However, a gene-environment interaction was observed for GSTP1(Ile/Ile) and GSTM1 null genotypes, modulating the effect of PCB153, PCB180, and of total PCBs on disease risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Unit of Mechanisms of Toxicity, Italian National Institute for Health, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vichi
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Medda
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ingelido
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resta
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Porpora
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abballe
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nisticò
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Felip
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gemma
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Testai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi / Q000235:genetics*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010535:Laparoscopy; D016015:Logistic Models; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1; C484555:GSTA1 protein, human; C496556:GSTP1 protein, human