Glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1) and male factor infertility risk: a pooled analysis of studies.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the role of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs; GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1) gene polymorphisms in susceptibility to male factor infertility.


METHODS
We report a pooled analysis of 11 studies on the association of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms and male factor infertility, including 1323 cases and 1054 controls.


RESULTS
An overall significant association was determined between the GSTM1 null genotype [odds ratio (OR), 2.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.72 to 3.84; P = .003], GSTT1 null genotype (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.43 to 3.47; P = .02), and male factor infertility. The GSTP1 Ile/Val genotype had overall protective effect against development of infertility (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.77), while there was significant heterogeneity between studies. In sensitivity analysis, two studies were excluded; the association and direction between GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes and GSTP1 Ile/Val genotype and male infertility remained unchanged. There was no significant interaction between smoking status and studied genotypes on male infertility risk (P = .26).


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrated that amongst populations studied to date, GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are associated with strong and modest increase in the risk of male infertility, respectively. On the contrary, GSTP1 Ile/Val genotype has protective effect.
Clinical Center for Urological Disease Diagnosis and Private Clinic Specialized in Urological and Andrological Genetics, Tehran, Iran. info@safarinejad.com
Mohammad Reza
MR
Safarinejad
Farid
F
Dadkhah
Majid
M
Ali Asgari
Seyed Yousef
SY
Hosseini
Ali Asgar
AA
Kolahi
Elham
E
Iran-Pour
D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi / Q000235:genetics*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018570:Risk Assessment
D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1; C496556:GSTP1 protein, human