Significant association between GSTT1 null genotype and risk of asthma during childhood in Caucasians.
Asthma is a complex multifactorial disorder and its management requires a better understanding of its various pathogenesis and mechanisms. Previous studies assessing the association between glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) null genotype and asthma risk during childhood reported conflicting results. To get a more precise estimation of the association between GSTT1 null genotype and risk of asthma during childhood, we performed a meta-analysis of 16 studies with a total of 18,558 subjects. Subgroup analyses were performed by ethnicity. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95 % confidence interval (95 %CI) was used to assess the association. Overall, there was a significant association between GSTT1 null genotype and increased risk of children asthma (OR = 1.25, 95 % CI, 1.02-1.54; P = 0.032). Subgroup analyses showed GSTT1 null genotype was associated with increased risk of children asthma in Caucasians (OR = 1.46, 95 % CI, 1.04-2.03; P = 0.027), but not in Asians (OR = 1.03, 95 % CI, 0.55-1.94; P = 0.928) and Africans (OR = 1.33, 95 % CI, 0.92-1.91; P = 0.127). There was no evidence of publication bias in the subgroup analysis of Caucasians. In conclusion, there is a significant association between GSTT1 null genotype and risk of asthma during childhood in Caucasians. More well-designed epidemiological studies are needed to further assess this association in Asians and Africans.
Department of Paediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610100, Sichuan, China. yongmeisc@yahoo.cn
Yongmei
Y
Zhao
Siyuan
S
Liu
Zhong
Z
Liu
Yuanfa
Y
Ye
Meng
M
Mao
D001249:Asthma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D012306:Risk; D044465:White People
C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1; D005982:Glutathione Transferase