Association of glutathione S-transferases M1, P1 and T1 variations and risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Objective: Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder. Associations of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) polymorphisms with the risk factors for AD have not been definitely confirmed. We investigated the association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null deletion and GSTP1 313 A/G polymorphisms and the risk of AD in an Iranian population.

Methods: The case group consisted of 280 individuals with AD and the control group included 168 age-matched healthy individuals. The genotyping of the GSTP1 polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP and the GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletions were done by multiplex PCR method.

Results: The GSTP1 AG genotype was significantly lower (p = 0.005; OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.38–0.84) in the patients (41.1%) than the control group (56.5%). The GSTM1 null genotype was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the patients (40.5%) than the control group (15.8%). The GSTT1 null genotype was significantly higher (p < 0.038) in the patients (31.2%) than the control group (21.5%). The patients homozygous for the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null alleles showed a 3.5 and 1.5-fold increased risk of AD, respectively. There were interaction between GSTP1 AG genotype and absence of APOE e4 allele (p = 0.001), as well as presence of APOE ε4 and GSTM1 null genotype (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: These findings suggested that GSTM1 and GSTT1 null deletions may be associated with susceptibility to AD and people with APOE e4 and GSTM1 null deletion have a higher increased risk for Late-onset AD in Iranian population.

Keywords:

• Association study
• Alzheimer’s disease
• glutathione S-transferase
• polymorphism

Acknowledgments

This study was carried out as a MSc dissertation in Genetic Research Centre, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences. We acknowledge with appreciation all the participants in this study.