A Possible Relationship Between Polymorphisms of Glutathione S-Transferase M1, P1 and T1 Genes and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Zahedan, Southeast Iran

Mohammad HASHEMI, 1, 2 Ebrahim ESKANDARI-NASAB, 1 Zahra ZAKERI, 2 Mahdi ATABAKI, 3 Hamzeh REZAEI, 1 Gholamreza BAHARI, 1 Mohsen TAHERI4

1Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
2Department of Internal Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
3Department of Immunology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
4Genetic of Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

Keywords: Glutathione S-transferase; polymorphism; rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the possible relationship between glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene (GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1) polymorphisms and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Patients and methods: This case-control study was conducted on 100 Iranian patients with RA (88 females, 12 males; mean age 44.1±13.2 years; range 17 to 75 years) and 100 healthy subjects (68 females and 32 males; mean age 45.7±9.6 years; range 23 to 70 years). The GSTP1 polymorphism was determined using a tetra amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (Tetra-ARMS-PCR) assay, whereas the GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms were analyzed by multiplex PCR.

Results: The null genotype of GSTM1 was significantly higher in the patients with RA (78.0%) than in the control group (59.0%), and there was a risk factor for susceptibility to RA (OR=2.86, 95% CI=1.45-5.66, p=0.002). However, no significant difference was observed in the null genotype of GSTT1 among RA patients and healthy subjects (19% and 11%, respectively). There was no difference in the frequency distribution of the GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism between the groups (chi-square=1.69, p=0.429).

Conclusion: Our findings showed that only the GSTM1 genetic polymorphism is associated with RA risk in a sample of the Iranian population.