Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) polymorphism is associated with atopic dermatitis susceptibility in a Korean population

• Published in: International journal of immunogenetics 2011-04, Vol.38 (2), p.145-150
• Main Authors: Cho, H.-R., Uhm, Y.-K., Kim, H.-J., Ban, J.-Y., Chung, J.-H., Yim, S.-V., Choi, B.-K., Lee, M.-H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age of Onset; Asian Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Case-Control Studies; Dermatitis, Atopic - enzymology; Dermatitis, Atopic - epidemiology; Dermatitis, Atopic - genetics; Dermatitis, Atopic - immunology; Female; Gene Frequency - genetics; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetics, Population; Glutathione Transferase - genetics; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Male; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Severity of Illness Index; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1744-3121; 1744-313X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-313X.2010.00987.x

Summary Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic skin condition affecting as much as 15% of children in industrialized countries. While the underlying pathophysiology of AD is not entirely understood, several studies have suggested that AD may mediated by oxidative stress. Glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) are a class of polymorphic enzymes that function to protect against oxidative stress. To identify any possible associations between GSTs polymorphisms and AD susceptibility, the prevalence of two specific polymorphisms –GSTM1 and GSTT1 (homozygous deletion vs. undeleted) – were quantified by multiplex PCR in 145 patients with AD and 267 healthy controls. In individuals with AD, GSTM1/GSTT1 polymorphisms were compared with family history of AD, age of disease onset, disease severity [per SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD)], serum IgE level and presence of other allergic diseases. While the GSTM1‐null genotype was found to be significantly associated with AD (P = 0.033, OR = 1.579, 95% CI = 1.037–2.403), the correlation between the GSTT1‐null genotype and AD did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.577, OR = 1.125, 95% CI = 0.744–1.702). The GSTM1‐null genotype was also found to be significantly associated with a childhood onset of AD, the absence of other allergic diseases, and a family history of AD. In combination, these results suggest that GSTM1 is associated with AD susceptibility in Korean subjects.