Relationship of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genetic variant and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in smokers with coronary artery disease

Objective:To investigate the role of glutathione S-transferase (GST) genetic variants and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in smoking-related coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Methods:Five hundred and thirty-five Chinese CAD patients were successfully genotyped. Plasma total antioxidant status (TAOS), glutathione, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen(FIB) and white blood cell count (WBC) were determined to evaluate the oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Results: GSTM1-0/GSTT1-0 subjects had a higher CRP, FIB, WBC and GSH and a lower TAOS compared to patients with wild-type GSTM1/GSTT1 genes, but there was significant difference only with regards to TAOS. Smokers with the null genotype of GSTT1 had the highest CRP and the lowest TAOS and GSH when compared to the GSTT1-1 genotype with smoking status, or the GSTT1-0 genotype with non-smoking status, or the GSTT1-1 genotype with non-smoking status. However, we found no significant difference between these groups. Also, no significant interaction was observed between genotypes and smoking status in determining CRP levels. Conclusion: Our results suggest that GST polymorphisms do not modify the effect of smoking on markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in Chinese CAD patients.