Glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphism, cigarette smoking and DNA damage

Abstract

Several factors such as smoking habits, diet, occupational, and environmental exposure to chemical carcinogens influence the overall level of DNA damage. In 69 healthy adult volunteers’ polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase (GST), an enzyme which participates in the metabolism of a broad range of carcinogens and endogenous compounds were determined. The level of DNA damage was assessed by comet assay and classified according to GSTT1/M1 genotype and smoking habits. GSTM1 null genotype was recognized in 48% of studied subjects and GSTT1 null genotype in only two cases (3%). In subjects carrying GSTT1/M1 alleles a significantly lower degree of DNA damage, determined as % DNA in the comet's tail, than in null individuals was noted. However, the results obtained did not indicate that in studied subjects an elevated endogenous level of DNA damage may be significantly related to smoking habits.

Keywords:

• alkaline single cell electrophoresis assay
• DNA damage
• genetic polymorphism
• GSTM1/T1 gene
• lymphocytes
• smoking

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant number N404042/32/0945 from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.