Genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) and M1 (GSTM1) in selected populations of Afghanistan

Genetic polymorphisms in genes encoding glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1, a member of class theta) and M1 (GSTM1, a member of class mu) have been defined. Previous studies have revealed that there was significant difference between populations for allelic frequency of several members of GSTs. In order to find the prevalence of null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in Afghanis populations the present study was carried out. The total study subjects consisted of 656 unrelated healthy Afghanis refugees living in Fars province (southern Iran). From these 257, 217, 120, and 62 individuals were Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks, respectively. Genetic polymorphisms for GSTT1 and GSTM1 were detected by multiplex PCR. The prevalence of null genotype of GSTM1 in Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks was 42.4, 48.4, 52.5, and 40.3 %, respectively. There was no significant difference between these populations for the genotypic distribution of the GSTM1 polymorphism (χ(2) = 4.67, df = 3, P = 0.197). The frequency of GSTT1 null genotype in Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks was 7.4, 25.3, 25.0, and 29.0 %, respectively. The observed difference between populations for prevalence of GSTT1 null genotype was statistically significant (χ(2) = 35.54, df = 3, P < 0.001). In comparison with European and Asian populations, Afghanistan populations like Iranian populations showed intermediate frequency for GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes.