Genetic polymorphisms of MnSOD, GSTM1, GSTT1, and OGG1 in coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

Little is known about the genetic susceptibility to coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). We investigated the association between genetic polymorphisms of MnSOD, GSTM1, GSTT1, or OGG1 and susceptibility to CWP. The study population was composed of 259 Chinese retired coal miners who had similar dust exposure histories. Of these, there were 99 cases with International Labor Organization chest radiologic criteria for CWP and 160 controls (with no radiologic criteria for CWP). Individual dust exposure variables were estimated from work histories, and smoking information was obtained from interviews. Polymerase chain reaction-based techniques evaluated the genotypes of all study subjects. There were no differences in genotype frequency of MnSOD, GSTM1, GSTT1, and OGG1 between miners with CWP and miners without CWP, by logistic regression analysis. Cumulative dust exposures, but not genetic polymorphisms, were associated significantly with the presence of CWP. This study illustrates the complexity of factors that may contribute to the development of CWP.