Association of GST M1 null polymorphism with Parkinson's disease in a Chilean population with a strong Amerindian genetic component

• Published in: Neuroscience letters 2007-05, Vol.418 (2), p.181-185
• Main Authors: Perez-Pastene, Carolina, Graumann, Rebecca, Díaz-Grez, Fernando, Miranda, Marcelo, Venegas, Pablo, Godoy, Osvaldo Trujillo, Layson, Luis, Villagra, Roque, Matamala, Jose Manuel, Herrera, Luisa, Segura-Aguilar, Juan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - genetics; Aging - metabolism; Aminochrome; Astrocytes - enzymology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - enzymology; Brain - physiopathology; Chile - ethnology; Cytoprotection - genetics; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; DNA Mutational Analysis; Dopamine; Dopamine - metabolism; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; Genetic Testing; Genotype; Glutathione Transferase; Glutathione Transferase - genetics; Humans; Indians, South American - ethnology; Indians, South American - genetics; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mutation; Neurology; Oxidative Stress - genetics; Parkinson Disease - enzymology; Parkinson Disease - ethnology; Parkinson Disease - genetics; Parkinson's disease; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.03.024

We have studied the association of a null mutation of Glutathione Transferase M1 (GST M1*0/0) with Parkinson's disease (MIM 168600) in a Chilean population with a strong Amerindian genetic component. We determined the genotype in 349 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (174 female and 175 male; 66.84 ± 10.7 years of age), and compared that to 611 controls (457 female and 254 male; 62 ± 13.4 years of age). A significant association of the null mutation in GST M1 with Parkinson's disease was found ( p = 0.021), and the association was strongest in the earlier age range. An association of GSTM1*0/0 with Parkinson's disease supports the hypothesis that Glutathione Transferase M1 plays a role in protecting astrocytes against toxic dopamine oxidative metabolism, and most likely by preventing toxic one-electron reduction of aminochrome.