title: GSTA1 gene variation associated with gestational hypertension and its involvement in pregnancy-related pathogenic conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are the main phase II enzymes involved in the cellular detoxification. Through phase I and phase II detoxification reactions, the cell is able to detoxify endogenous and exogenous toxic compounds. In this study, we focused our attention on the GSTA1*-69C/T gene polymorphism (rs3957357) in order to explore its involvement in the genetic predisposition to gestational hypertension (GH).
  
  
  METHODS
  The case-control population consists of 195 subjects. The genotyping of the GSTA1*-69C/T was performed by using an RFLP-PCR technique. We calculated odds ratios (ORs), adjusted for the confounding variables, to estimate the association between GSTA1 and GH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant allelic differences in GSTA1*-69C/T are present between GH women and pregnant women without cardiovascular complications (p<0.05). Specifically, we observed that the dominant genetic model best explains the observed genetic association, according to the Akaike information criterion and the Bayesian information criterion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study highlighted a significant association between the GSTA1 gene and the risk of GH in Italian patients. In particular, the -69C/T variant was significantly associated with disease risk. Since previous studies indicated that this GSTA1 polymorphism is associated with different pregnancy-related conditions, our finding supports the notion that GSTA1 may play a key role during pregnancy.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Iorio
authors: Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Spinelli
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, United States.
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Polimanti
authors: Clinical Pathophysiology Center, AFaR Division, Fatebenefratelli Foundation, "San Giovanni Calibita" Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina, Rome, Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Lorenzi
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina, Rome, Italy.
authors: Herbert
authors: H
authors: Valensise
authors: Clinical Pathophysiology Center, AFaR Division, Fatebenefratelli Foundation, "San Giovanni Calibita" Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina, Rome, Italy.
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Manfellotto
authors: Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy. Electronic address: fuciarelli@uniroma2.it.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Fuciarelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: C484555:GSTA1 protein, human; D005982:Glutathione Transferase
keywords: Detoxification; Gestation; Glutathione S-transferases; Hypertension; Single nucleotide polymorphism