Abnormal liver function associated with occupational exposure to dimethylformamide and glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms

Dimethylformaide (DMF) is a major solvent predominately used in synthetic leather and resin production. Many human and animal studies have linked the cause of hepatoxicity to DMF. Previously, the authors demonstrated the significant dose–response relationship between abnormal liver function tests and DMF exposure and the interaction with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Taiwanese workers. Because the toxic effect of various chemicals can be modified by metabolic traits, the study also investigated the influence of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1 and GSTT1) on the toxic effect of DMF. The average DMF exposure concentration was 23.87 ppm (range 5.2–86.6 ppm) in the high-exposure (≥5 ppm) group and 2.41 ppm (range 0.9–4.3 ppm) in the low-exposure (<5 ppm) group. There were 13 of 44 (29.6%) abnormal liver function tests (elevations of either glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) or glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT)) among the high DMF exposure workers, two of 22 (9.1%) abnormal liver function tests among the low DMF exposure workers. Chronic liver disease as determined by ultrasonography was present in seven of 44 (15.9%) high DMF exposure workers, and 0 of 22 (0%) low DMF exposure workers. There were 11 of 34 (32.4%) abnormal liver function tests among the GSTT1 null genotype workers, and four of 32 (12.5%) abnormal liver function tests among the GSTT1-positive genotype workers. Compared with the low DMF exposure workers, the adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals for abnormal liver function tests was 6.78 (0.94–48.7) for the high DMF exposure workers. Compared with the GSTT1-positive genotype workers, the adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals for abnormal liver function tests was 4.41 (1.15–16.9) for the GSTT1 null genotype workers. Compared with the low DMF group with GSTT1-positive genotype workers, the odds ratio (adjusted for HBV status) of abnormal liver function test was 12.38, 95% CI=(1.04–146.9) for the high DMF group with GSTT1 null genotype workers. This study indicates that abnormal liver function and chronic liver disease are associated with DMF exposure, and there are more than multiplicative interaction effects on abnormal liver function tests between the DMF exposure and the GSTT1 genotype.