Glutathione S-transferases polymorphisms confer susceptibility to senile cortical cataract in the Han Chinese population.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine whether glutathione S-transferase (GST) polymorphisms were associated with a susceptibility to age-related cortical cataract (cortical ARC) in the Han Chinese population.


METHODS
Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) gene polymorphisms were genotyped in 422 Han Chinese patients with age-related cortical cataract, and in 312 age, sex, and ethnically matched healthy controls, using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The results showed that the GSTM1 positive genotype had an increased risk of developing cortical ARC (p=0.0002, odds ratio [OR] 1.74, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.34). There was a statistically significant association between the GSTM1 positive genotype and the risk of cataract development in both female and male groups (p=0.026, OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.36; p=0. 002, OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.27 to 3.04, respectively). A combination of GSTM1 positive and GSTT1 null genotypes was associated with the risk of developing age-related cortical cataract (p=0.002, OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.33 to 3.60). The results revealed that the GSTM1 positive genotype was significantly higher in the smoker patients group as compared to the non-smoker patients group (p=0. 016, OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.39). Logistic regression analysis revealed that smoking may be a risk factor for the development of ARC (r=0.120, p=0.013).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that the GSTM1 positive genotype and a combination of GSTM1 positive and GSTT1 null genotypes may be associated with a susceptibility to age-related cortical cataract in the Han Chinese population. The current study indicates that smoking may be an important factor in the development of cortical ARC.
Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China.
Zhengxuan
Z
Jiang
Kun
K
Liang
Qing
Q
Zhang
Liming
L
Tao
D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002386:Cataract / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012907:Smoking
D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1