The role of Glutathione-S Transferase M1 and T1 polymorphisms on progression of hepatocellular insufficiency to cirrhosis

Aim and Background: We intended to investigate the probable role of activity absence (null genotype) of GSTM1 and GSTT1 functioning in antioxidant pathways, on progression of chronic B or C hepatitis to cirrhosis.Methods: The patient population included 40 B or C chronic hepatitis patients without cirrhosis, 7 patients with cirrhosis diagnosed by biopsy (B or C type chronic hepatitis) compared to hepatitis markers negative control group (n=57) of normal healthy volunteers. All patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Gastroenterology, Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine. Genomic DNA of leukocytes for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was isolated using a commercial isolation kit PCR analysis was assessed for GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes. The PCR products were resolved on electrophoresis 2% agarose jell and visualized. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the two genotypes. The statistical software used for the data analyses was SPSS version 10.0.Results: The prevalence of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes in the control group (n=57) were 38.6%, 28.1% respectively. The prevalence of GSTM1 null genotype in the B or C chronic hepatitis patients with cirrhosis group (n=7) was 42.9%, compared to 40% in the B or C chronic hepatitis patients without cirrhosis group (n=40), giving an odds ratio (OR) of 2.045 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.156-26.831). Although the prevalence of GSTM1 null genotype was higher in the B or C chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis group it was not statistically significant. The prevalence of GSTT1 null genotype in the B or C chronic hepatitis patients with cirrhosis group (n=7) was 42.9%, compared to 25% in the B or C chronic hepatitis patients without cirrhosis group (n=40), giving an odds ratio (OR) of 2.350 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.147-37.611). The prevalence of GSTM1 null genotype was higher in the B or C chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis group but it was not statistically significant.Conclusion: The prevalence of GSTM1 null genotype and GSTT1 null genotype in the B or C chronic hepatitis patients with cirrhosis was higher compared to the patients without cirrhosis but the ratio?s were not statistically significant. We believe that investigations with higher population groups could reveal results with statistical significance.Key Words: Glutathione-s transferase M1, Glutathione- s transferase T1, Genetic polymorphism, Chronic hepatitis, Cirrhosis