Glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphisms in Turkish patients with diabetes mellitus

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes involved in the metabolism of many disease-causing electrophilic substrates and protect the cells against oxidative stress. In the present study, we investigated the GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms in diabetic patients and healthy individuals and searched whether polymorphisms in GST genes are associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the Turkish population. The study population consisted of 98 unrelated healthy individuals and 98 patients with DM. Genotyping of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 genes was performed using real time polymerase chain reaction with a Light Cycler instrument. Patients had a higher frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype than the control group (Odds ratios, OR = 3.7; 95% confidence intervals, CI = 2.05-6.70). However, there was no significant difference in the frequencies of the GSTT1 and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms between the patients and control group. The combined analysis of these three GST genotypes showed a further DM risk increase (OR = 5.7, 95% CI = 1.51-31.07). This is the first study to determine the association of diabetes with GST gene polymorphism in the Turkish population. These results show that GSTM1 null genotype may play a significant role in the aetiopathogeneses of DM and the GSTM1 gene may be a useful marker in the prediction of DM susceptibility of the Turkish population.