Vegetable/fruit, smoking, glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms and risk for colorectal cancer in Taiwan

AIM: To investigate the colorectal cancer risk associated with polymorphic GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 and the effect of diet and smoking.METHODS: With consents, genotypes of the genes were determined using PCR methods for 727 cases and 736sex and age-matched healthy controls recruited at a medical center in the Northern Taiwan. Nurses who were blind to the study hypothesis conducted interviews with study participants for the information of socio-demographic variables, diet and smoking.RESULTS: There was no significant association between GSTM1 genotypes and the disease. Men, not women, with GSTT1 null genotype were at significant risk of colorectal cancer, but limited to rectal tumor, and in men aged 60 years and less. The corresponding association with the GSTP1 with G allele compared to GSTP1 A/A genotype was at borderline significance. Compared to men with GSTT1 present and GSTP1 A/A combined, men with both GSTT1 null and GSTP1 with G allele genotypes were at significant risk (odds ratio (OR) = 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.21-3.02), also limited to the rectal tumor and younger men. The beneficial effects of vegetable/fruit intake on colorectal cancer were much higher for men with GSTT1 present (OR = 0.32, 95%CI = 0.20-0.50) or GSTP1 A/A genotypes (OR = 0.40, 95%CI = 0.25-0.64).These effects remained significant for women. But, the greatest protective effect from vegetable/fruit intake for women was observed in those with GSTT1 null or GSTP1 with G allele genotypes. In addition, non-smoking men benefitted significantly from combined effect of higher vegetable/fruit intake and GSTT1 present or GSTP1 A/A genotypes with OR = 0.17 and 0.21 respectively.CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the GSTT1 gene can modulate the colorectal cancer risk and vegetable/fruit-related colorectal cancer risk, particularly in men of no smoking history.

Polymorphisms of the oxidant enzymes glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase and their association with resistance of Plasmodium falciparum isolates to antimalarial drugs

Objective:To investigate the association between amplification of the two regulatory genes controlling glutathione(GSH) levels,glutathione reductase(PfGR) and glutathione S-transferase (PfGST) genes and sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum(P.falciparum) isolates collected from different malaria endemic areas of Thailand to standard antimalarial drugs.Methods:A total of 70 P.falciparum isolates were collected from endemic areas of multi-drug resistance (Tak,Chantaburi and Ranong Provinces) during the year 2008-2009.The in vitro assessment of antimalarial activity of P.falciparum clones(K1- and Dd2 chloroquine resistant and 3D7- chloroquine sensitive) and isolates to chloroquine,quinine,mefloquine and arteusnate was performed based on SYBR Green modified assay.Results:68(97.14%),11(15.71%) and 28(40%) isolates respectively were classified as chloroquine-,quinine- and mefloquine-resistant isolates. With this limited number of P.falciparum isolates included in the analysis,no significant association between amplification of PfGST gene and sensitivity of the parasite to chloroquine, quinine,mefloquine and quinine was found.Based on PCR analysis,Dd2,Kl and 3D7 clones all contained only one copy of the PfGST gene.All isolates(70) also carried only one copy number of PfGST gene.There appears to be an association between amplification of PfGR gene and chloroquine resistance.The 3D7 and Dd2 clones were found to carry only one PfGR gene copy, whereas the K1 clone carried two gene copies.Conclusions:Chloroquine resistance is likely to be a consequence of multi-factors and enzymes in the GSH system may be partly involved. Larger number of parasite isolates are required to increase power of the hypothesis testing in order to confirm the involvement of both genes as well as other genes implicated in glutathione metabolism in conferring chloroquine resistance.

Association of glutathione S-transferase T1 and M1 gene polymorphisms with ischemic stroke risk in the Chinese Han population

Atherosclerosis plays an important role in ischemic stroke, and oxidative stress participates in the entire process of atherosclerosis. Glutathione S-transferase （GST） acting with other antioxidant enzymes can eliminate reactive oxygen species and protect cells against oxidative damage. To assess the association of glutathione S-transferase （GSTT1 and GSTM1） gene polymorphisms with ischemic stroke in the Chinese Han population, the present study selected 315 patients with ischemic stroke and 210 healthy controls for comparison. GSTT1 and GSTM1 genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reactions, electrophoresis and imaging analysis. No obvious evidence of GSTTI-nulI, GSTMI-null and GSTTI/GSTMI-double null genotype distribution differences was found between case and control groups or between genders. Subgroup analysis showed that the risk of stroke was increased when hypertension was accompanied by GSTTl-null （odds ratio （OR） = 2.996, P 〈 0.001） and GSTMl-null （OR = 3.680, P 〈 0.001 ） genotypes; diabetes mellitus was accompanied by GSTTI-null （OR = 1.860, P = 0.031） and GSTMI-null （OR = 2.444, P = 0.002） genotypes, and smokers showed a GSTTl-null genotype （OR = 2.276, P = 0.003）. GSTT1- and GSTMl-null genotypes may interact synergistically with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and smoking to increase the incidence risk of ischemic stroke.

Genetic Polymorphisms Analysis of Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Summary: The relationship between glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) M1, T1 genotype and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated. GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes in genomic DNA from 67 children with ALL and 146 healthy controls were analyzed by using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The frequencies of GSTM1, M1-T1 null genotypes in ALL children were significantly higher than in the healthy controls (76.12 % versus 52.74 %, OR=2.856, P<0.001; 50.74 % versus 24.66 %, OR=3.148, P<0.001, respectively). However, there was no significant relationship between GSTT1 null genotype and ALL of children (61.19 % versus 49.32 %, OR=1.621, P>0.05). It was suggested that GSTM1 null genotype might be a risk genotype of childhood ALL, while there as no correlation between GSTT1 null genotype and childhood ALL.

Polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase genes and survival of resected hepatocellular carcinoma patients

AIM: To investigate the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in glutathione S-transferase(GST) genes on survival of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients.METHODS: Twelve tagging SNPs in GST genes(including GSTA1, GSTA4, GSTM2, GSTM3, GSTO1, GSTO2 and GSTP1) were genotyped using Sequenom Mass ARRAY i PLEX genotyping method in a cohort of 214 Chinese patients with resected HCC.The Cox proportional hazards model and log-rank test were performed to determine the SNPs related to outcome.Additionally, stratified analysis was performed at each level of the demographic and clinical variables.An SNP-gene expression association model was further established to investigate the correlation between SNP and gene expression.RESULTS: Two SNPs(GSTO2 : rs7085725 and GSTP1 : rs4147581) were significantly associated with overall survival in HCC patients(P = 0.035 and 0.042, respectively).In stratified analysis, they were more significantly associated with overall survival in patients with younger age, male gender and cirrhosis.We further investigated cumulative effects of these two SNPs on overall survival in HCC patients.Compared with the patients carrying no unfavorable genotypes, those carrying 2 unfavorable genotypes had a 1.70-fold increased risk of death(P < 0.001).The cumulative effects were more significant in those patients with younger age, male gender and cirrhosis(HR = 2.00, 1.94 and 1.97, respectively; all P < 0.001).Additionally, we found that heavy smoking resulted in a significantly worse overall survival in those patients carrying variantalleles of rs7085725(HR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.13-3.76, P = 0.018).The distributions of GSTO2 : rs7085725 and GSTP1 : rs4147581 genotypes were associated with altered gene expression and contributed to influences on overall survival.CONCLUSION: Our study provides the first evidence that GSTO2 and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms may serve as independent prognostic markers for HCC patients.

Systematic analysis and functional verification of citrus glutathione S-transferases reveals that CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18contribute negatively to citrus bacterial canker

Citrus bacterial canker(CBC) is resulted from Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri(Xcc) infection and poses a significant threat to citrus production.Glutathione S-transferases(GSTs) are critical in maintaining redox homeostasis in plants, especially in relation to abiotic and biotic stress responses. However, the function of GSTs in resisting CBC remains unclear. Here, citrus glutathione S-transferases were investigated applying a genome-wide approach. In total, 69 CsGSTs belonging to seven classes were identified, and the phylogeny, chromosomal distribution, gene structures and conserved motifs were analyzed. Several CsGSTs responded to Xcc infection, as observed in the upregulation of CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18 in the CBC-sensitive ‘Wanjincheng' variety but not in the resistant ‘Kumquat' variety. CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18 were localized at the cytoplasm. Transient overexpression of CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18 mediated reactive oxygen species(ROS) scavenging, whereas the virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS) of CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18 caused strong CBC resistance and ROS burst. The present study investigated the characterization of citrus GST gene family, and discovered that CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18 negatively contributed to CBC through modulating ROS homeostasis. These findings emphasize the significance of GSTs in infection resistance in plants.

Association between Polymorphisms of Glutathione S-Transferase and Progression to Cervical Cancer in Women from Burkina Faso and Mali

Although persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus infection is the main risk factor, Glutathione S-Transferase highly polymorphic enzyme involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics, is a good candidate gene. The objective of this study was to compare the polymorphisms of Glutathione S-Transferase M1-null in women with cancerous lesions and without lesions. This study consisted of 322 uterine cervix samples of women from Mali and Burkina Faso with Cervical Intra-epithelial Neoplasia 2 and 3, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and 100 women with no lesions. Human Papillomavirus genotyping was performed by Real-time multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction. Glutathione S-Transferase gene polymorphisms were determined using conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction followed by migration on agarose gel. A statistically significant association with high relative risks of 10.77 for the development of High grade Superficial or Squamous Intra-epithelial Lesion (95% CI = 5.59 - 20.72;p < 0.001), and 13.20 for cancer development (95% CI = 6.79 - 25.63;p < 0.001) was found in women with the null genotype of Glutathione S-Transferase M1 in the study population. In Burkina Faso and Mali, Glutathione S-Transferase M1-null presented relative risks of 9 and 11.05 for high-grade lesions, 15 and 11.40 for cancer. Similarly, significant results had been observed in women with human papillomavirus positive and human papillomavirus negative. The results of the present study support the idea that the deletion of Glutathione S-Transferase M1 plays a crucial role in the progression of high-grade lesions and cervical cancer.

Polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase mu 1 and theta 1 genes and hepatocellular carcinoma in southern Guangxi, China

AIM: Glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1) and theta 1 (GSTT1) genes are involved in the metabolism of a wide range of carcinogens, but deletions of the genes are commonly found in the population. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. METHODS: The genetic polymorphisms were studied at an aflatoxin highly contaminated region in Guangxi, China. Pdymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used to detect the presence or absence of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in blood samples. The case group was composed of 181 patients of HCC identified by the pathologists and the control group was composed of 360 adults without any tumor. RESULTS: The frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes in the control were 47.8% and 42.7%, while those in the HCC group were 64.6% and 59.7%, respectively. The differences between HCC group and control group were very significant (P<0.01). GSTM1 and GSTT1 combined null genotypes in HCC group and control group were 38.2% and 18.5% respectively, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are associated with an increased risk of HCC in a special geographic environment. Combination of the two null genotypes in an individual is substantially increased twice the risk of HCC.

Genetic polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase T1 gene and susceptibility to idiopathic azoospermia or oligospermia in northwestern China

Aim： To investigate the association of glutathione S-transferase T1 （GSTT1） gene polymorphism in patients with idiopathic azoospermia or oligospermia in the northwestern China population. Methods： In the case-control study, GSTT1 genotypes were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction （PCR） with peripheral blood DNA samples from 78 patients with idiopathic azoospermia, 103 patients with idiopathic oligospermia and 156 age-matched controls with normal sperm concentration and motility, according to the criteria adapted from World Health Organization guidelines. All of the patients and controls were from northwestern China. Results： There is a significant association between GSTT1 null genotype with idiopathic azoospermia risk （odds ratio [OR]： 2.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]： 1.33-4.20, P = 0.003） or idiopathic oligospermia risk （OR： 2.00, 95% CI： 1.17-3.27, P = 0.010）. Conclusion： GSTT1 null genotype is a predisposing risk factor for sporadic idiopathic azoospermia or oligospermia in northwestern China. （Asian J Androl 2008 Mar; 10： 266-270）

Glutathione S-transferase M1 polymorphism and esophagealcancer risk:An updated meta-analysis based on 37 studies

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between glutathione S-transferase M1(GSTM1) polymorphism and susceptibility to esophageal cancer(EC).METHODS: A comprehensive search of the United States National Library of Medicine Pub Med database and the Elsevier, Springer, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for all relevant studies was conducted using combinations of the following terms: "glutathione S-transferase M1", "GSTM1", "polymorphism", and "EC"(until November 1, 2014). The statistical analysis was performed using the SAS software(v.9.1.3; SAS Institute, Cary, NC, United States) and the Review Manager software(v.5.0; Oxford, England); crude odds ratios(ORs) with 95% confidence intervals(CIs) were used to assess the association between the GSTM1 null genotype and the risk of EC.RESULTS: A total of 37 studies involving 2236 EC cases and 3243 controls were included in this metaanalysis. We observed that the GSTM1 null genotype was a significant risk factor for EC in most populations(OR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.12-1.57, P_(heterogeneity) < 0.000001, and I2 = 77.0%), particularly in the Asian population(OR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.26-1.86, P_(heterogeneity)< 0.000001, and I2 = 77.0%), but not in the Caucasian population(OR = 1.02, 95%CI: 0.87-1.19, P_(heterogeneity) = 0.97, and I2 = 0%).CONCLUSION: The GSTM1 null polymorphism may be associated with an increased risk for EC in Asian but not Caucasian populations.

Polymorphism of Glutathione S-transferase T1,M1 and P1 Genes in a Shanghai Population: Patients With Occupational or Non-occupational Bladder Cancer

Objective Glutathione S-transferases are involved in the conjugation of xenobiotics. To explore whether GSTs polymorphisms are involved in the development of occupational or non-occupational bladder cancer, polymorphism frequencies of GSTT1, M1 and P1 were investigated in a normal population, which had been settled in a rural area in Shanghai suburb for at least 5 generations as well as in a group of patients with benzidine exposure related occupational bladder cancer in Shanghai dyestuff industry and a group of patients with non-occupational bladder cancer. Methods PCR based procedures were performed in the study populations to confirm the genotypes of GSTT1, M1 and P1. Results The polymorphisms at locus of GSTP1- A1578G in the normal population differed significantly from those in Caucasians or African Americans. All the subjects genotyped so far (n =118) bore only homogenous wild genotype (C2293/ C2293) at GSTP1 - C2293T locus. This locus seemed to be a monomorphic in Shanghai population. No significant difference in GSTT1 and GSTM1 polymorphic form frequencies could be confirmed among three groups of subjects. An overrepresentation of GSTP1 AG or GG genotype corresponding a less stable and less effective isozyme protein was detected in patients with benzidine related occupational bladder cancer, compared with that in the normal population though a statistical significance was not yet reached (P=0.09, OR=1.96, 95% CI 0.89-4.32,). Conclusion This study suggests that GSTM1 or GSTT1 homozygous deficiency genotypes and their combination do not have a clear impact on bladder cancer incidence in a Shanghai population. It seems that GSTP1 polymorphism is not associated with non-occupational bladder cancer. GSTP1 AG or GG genotype has a higher frequency in the patients with benzidine related occupational bladder cancer, and further work is needed to confirm if GSTP1 AG or GG genotype plays a role in the development of occupational bladder cancer.

A systemic review of glutathione S-transferase P1 Ile105Val polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk

Objectives： To investigate the correlation between glutathione S-transferase P1 （GSTP1） Ilel05Val polymorphism and colorectal cancer （CRC） risk. Methods： Studies were identified to investigate the association between GSTP1 Ilel05Val polymorphism and CRC risk. Systematic computerized searches of the PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG and SinoMed were performed. Summary odds ratios （OR） and 95% confidence intervals （95 % CI） were used to measure GSTP 1 Ile 105Val polymorphisms and CRC risk. Results： A total of 23 retrospective studies were included in the meta-analysis. During all studies including 6,981 cases and 8,977 controls, sample sizes ranged from 146 to 2,144. Overall, the pooled results revealed that lie 105Val polymorphism was not associated with CRC risk and confused results were found in subgroup analyses. Further meta-analyses were conducted after excluding low-quality studies. GSTP1 Ilel05Val is associated with increased risk of CRC limited in studies with matched control. There was no significant heterogeneity in all genetic comparisons, but heterogeneity existed in subgroup analyses of heterozygous and dominant comparisons. The meta-regression analyses indicated that matched controls were the significant factor influencing between-study heterogeneity in all possible influential factors including published year, ethnicity, source of control, sample size, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium （HWE） in control and matched controls. Sensitivity analysis revealed the pooled ORs were not changed before and after removal of each single study in all genetic comparisons, indicating the robustness of the results. Conclusions： GSTP1 Ilel05Val might be associated with increased risk of CRC. However, more high- quality case-control studies should be performed to confirm the authenticity of our conclusion.

Association among Serum Organochlorine Pesticide Residues, Glutathione S-Transferase M1 Genetic Polymorphism and Female Breast Cancer

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association among serum organochlorine pesticide residues, glutathione S-transferase M1 genetic polymorphism and female breast cancer. Methods: A 1:1 matched case-control study of 140 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 140 non-cancer female patients who consulted the five largest hospitals in the Tangshan city from September 2006 to October 2007. Results: The result showed higher risk of breast cancer among subjects with higher levels of serum DDT and HCH residue, the OR was 3.18 (95%CI, 1.11 - 9.07) and 5.02 (95%CI, 1.64 - 16.56).The value of ORe associated with single environmental factor DDT high residues, and ORg associated with single GSTM1 deletion genotype were respectively 3.86 (1.20 - 12.47) and 1.34 (0.36 - 5.08). The OReg associated with combined action of two factors was 5.59 (1.63 - 18.90), and the value of interaction parameters (γ) equaled 1.24. The value of ORe associated with single environmental factor HCH higher residue and ORg associated with single GSTM1 deletion genotype were respectively 2.73 (0.84 - 8.87) and 1.48 (0.49 - 4.60). The value of OReg associated with combined action of two factors was 3.87 (1.18 - 12.68), and γ equaled 1.38. Conclusion: The results indicated that breast cancer occurrence was the combined result of environmental and genetic factors. The concurrent action of GSTM1 deletion genotype and DDT/HCH enhanced the risk of breast cancer.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 Gene Deletion Associated with Increased Susceptibility to Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective： To evaluate the association of Glutathione S-transferase （GST） M1 and T1 genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） in a high risk area of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region （province）, Southwest of China. Methods： A case-control study was conducted to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of these enzymes （GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes）. A total of 127 NPC cases and 207 controls were recruited. Results： GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotype frequencies were higher among NPC patients at a level of statistical significance （P〈0.005; P〈0.001 respectively）, and both GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotype were even more significant （P〈0.001）. Conclusion： NPC is the most common cancer in Guangxi. GST enzymes are involved in the detoxification of many environmental carcinogens. Homozygous deletions of GSTM1 and GSTT1 have been associated with several types of cancer. The risk to develop NPC has been associated with environmental factors such as cigarette smoking and EB virus infection. The present results indicate that the GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms are associated with an increase risk of susceptibility to NPC, and both detoxific enzyme genes deletion is more important than a single gene deletion for the susceptibility to NPC.

Glutathione S-transferases M1,T1 genotypes and the risk of gastric cancer:A case-control study

AIM: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are involved in the detoxification of many potential carcinogens and appear to play a critical role in the protection from the effects of carcinogens. The contribution of glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1 genotypes to susceptibility to the risk of gastric cancer and their interaction with cigarette smoking are still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was any relationship between genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTT1 and gastric cancer. METHODS: A population based case-control study was carried out in a high-risk area, Changle County, Fujian Province, China. The epidemiological data were collected by a standard questionnaire and blood samples were obtained from 95 incidence gastric cancer cases and 94 healthy controls. A polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect the presence or absence of the GSTT1 and GSTT1 genes in genomic DNA. Logistic regression model was employed in the data analysis. RESULTS: An increase in risk for gastric cancer was found among carriers of GSTT1 null genotype. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 2.63 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 1.17-5.88, after controlling for age, gender, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and fish sauce intake. The frequency of GSTT1 null genotype in cancer cases (43.16%) was not significantly different from that in controls (50.00%). However, the risk for gastric cancer in those with GSTT1 null and GSTT1 non-null genotype was significantly higher than in those with both GSTT1 and GSTT1 non-null genotype (OR = 2.77, 95% CI 1.15-6.77). Compared with those subjects who never smoked and had normal GSTT1 genotype, ORs were 1.60 (95% CI:0.62-4.19) for never smokers with GSTT1 null type, 2.33 (95% CI 0.88-6.28) for smokers with normal GSTT1, and 8.06 (95% CI 2.83-23.67) for smokers with GSTT1 null type. CONCLUSIONS: GSTT1 gene polymorphisms may be associated with genetic susceptibility of stomach cancer and may modulate tobacco-related carcinogenesis of gastric cancer.

Increased oxidative damage of sperm and seminal plasma in men with idiopathic infertility is higher in patients with glutathione S-transferase Mu-1 null genotype

Aim： To examine whether a relationship exists between glutathione S-transferase Mu-1 （GSTM1） gene polymorphism and the susceptibility of sperm and seminal plasma from patients with idiopathic infertility to oxidative stress. Methods： Fifty-two men with idiopathic infertility and 60 healthy fertile men were recruited to this study. GSTM1 gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and both the infertile and control individuals were divided into GSTM1 null and GSTM1 positive groups according to their GSTM1 gene structure. We compared reactive oxygen species （ROS） generation, malondialdehyde （MDA）, protein carbonyls and glutathione （GSH） concentrations, and glutathione S-transferase （GST） activity in seminal plasma and spermatozoa from infertile patients and controls with respect to GSTM1 genotype. Results： Significantly higher levels of oxidative stress and damage markers were found in idiopathic infertile men with the GSTM1 null genotype compared with those with the GSTM1 positive genotype. There was no significant difference in genotype distribution for theGSTM1 variant between the idiopathic infertile subjects and fertile subjects. Patients with the GSTM1 null genotype also had lower sperm concentrations than those with GSTM1 positive genotype. Conclusion： Our results suggest that the susceptibility of sperm and seminal plasma to oxidative stress is significantly greater in idiopathic infertile men with the GSTM1 null genotype compared with those possessing the gene. Therefore, in patients with idiopathic infertility, GSTM1 polymorphism might be an important source of variation in susceptibility of spermatozoa to oxidative damage.

Alterations of glutathione S-transferase and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expressions are early events in esophageal carcinogenesis

AIM: To investigate the role of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expres-sions in the development and progression of reflux es-ophagitis-Barrett’s metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence in the esophagus.METHODS: GST and MMP-9 expressions were analyzed in 51 paraffin-embedded tissue samples by immunohisto-chemistry including patients with reflux esophagitis (n = 7), Barrett’s metaplasia (n = 14), Barrett and esophagi-tis (n = 8), Barrett and dysplasia (n = 7), esophageal adenocarcinoma (n = 8) and a control group without any histological changes (n = 7). Immunostaining was determined semiquantitatively. Statistical analysis with one-way ANOVA, LSD test and correlation analysis were performed. P value of < 0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS: GST expression was significantly higher while MMP-9 expression was significantly lower in control group compared to Barrett’s metaplasia and the other groups. No major changes were observed between Bar-rett, esophagitis, and Barrett and concomitant esophagi-tis. Barrett and concomitant dysplasia, and adenocarci-noma revealed a significant lower expression of GST and higher levels of MMP-9 compared to all other groups. Adenocarcinoma showed almost no expression of GST and significantly higher levels of MMP-9 than Barrett and concomitant dysplasia. Alterations of GST and MMP-9 were inversely correlated (r = - 0.82).CONCLUSION: Decreased GST and increased ex-pression of MMP-9 in Barrett’s metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence as compared to normal tissue suggest their association with esophageal tumorigenesis. Loss of GST and gain of MMP-9 in Barrett with dyspla-sia compared to non-dysplastic metaplasia indicate that these alterations may be early events in carcinogenesis. Quantification of these parameters in Barrett’s esopha-gus might be useful to identify patients at higher risk for progression to cancer.

Response of Glutathione and Glutathione S-transferase in Rice Seedlings Exposed to Cadmium Stress

A hydroponic culture experiment was done to investigate the effect of Cd stress on glutathione content （GSH） and glutathione S-transferase （GST, EC 2.5.1,18） activity in rice seedlings. The rice growth was severely inhibited when Cd level in the solution was higher than 10 mg/L. In rice shoots, GSH content and GST activity increased with the increasing Cd level, while in roots, GST was obviously inhibited by Cd treatments, Compared with shoots, the rice roots had higher GSH content and GST activity, indicating the ability of Cd detoxification was much higher in roots than in shoots. There was a significant correlation between Cd level and GSH content or GST activity, suggesting that both parameters may be used as biomarkers of Cd stress in rice.

Measurement of mouse liver glutathione S-transferase activity by the integrated method

Objective: The integrated method was investigated to measure Vm/Km of mouse liver glutathione S-transfer-ase (GST) activity on GSH and 7-Cl-4-nitrobenzofurazozan. Methods: Presetting concentration of one substrate twenty-fold above the other's and taking maximum product absorbance Am as parameter while Km as constant, Vm/Km was obtained by nonlinear fitting of GST reaction curve to the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation In [Am/(Am -Ai)] + Ai/ ( ξ× Km ) = ( Vm/Km )×ti (1). Results: Vm/Km for GST showed slight dependence on initial substrate concentration and data range, but it was resistant to background absorbance, error in reaction origin and small deviation in presetting Km. Vm/Km was proportional to the amount of GST with upper limit higher than that by initial rate. There was close correlation between Vm/Km and initial rate of the same GST. Consistent results were obtained by this integrated method and classical initial rate method for the measurement of mouse liver GST. Conclusion: With the concentration of one substrate twenty-fold above the other's, this integrated method was reliable to measure the activity of enzyme on two substrates , and substrate concentration of the lower one close to its apparent Km was able to be used.

Induction of Glutathione and Glutathione S-transferase in Several Crops with the Treatment of Acetochlor

The response of glutathione(GSH) content and glutathione S-transferease(GST) activity to the acetochlor in roots and shoots of the maize 'Dongnong248',the sorghum 'Aoza No.2' and millet'Yugu' was evaluated.The concentrations of pre-emergence acetochlor causing a 50% inhibition of plant shoot height were 25 μmol·L^(-1) for the tolerant 'Dongnong248' maize,5 μmol·L^(-1) for the sensitive 'Aoza No.2' sorghum and 0.5 μmol·L^(-1) for the very sensitive 'Yugu'millet.Pre-treatment with 10 μmol·L^(-1) of acetochlor induced the root GST activities and nonprotein thiol content of all three cultivars.The induction of root GST activities and nonprotein thiol content compared to controls are observed on the fourth day after acetochlor treatment,The extents of activity and content increase from the higher to the lower were:tolerant maize cultivar 'Dongnong248'>sorghum cultivar'Aoza No.2'>millet cultivar 'Yugu'.The activities and contents induced in shoots were similar to that in roots,but the degrees of increase were less.Under different concentration treatment,the thiol content and GST activities increased with the herbicide concentration rising,then reached their peaks and began to decrease in all tested crop seedlings.The extent of induced GST activities and thiol content correlated well with differential cultivar resistance to acetochlor,so their protective mechanism appears to be strongly dependent on the endogenous levels of GSH and activities of GST.