Glutathione S-transferase genetic polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTO2) in three Iranian populations.

Genetic polymorphisms in genes encoding glutathione S-transferases M1 (GSTM1; a member of class mu), T1 (GSTT1; a member of class theta) and O2 (GSTO2; a member of class omega) have been defined previously. Studies have revealed that there were significant differences between populations for allelic frequencies of GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTO2 N412D polymorphisms. To get more insight into the genetic structure of Iranian populations the present study was done on Iranian Georgians living in Frydoonshahr (Isfahan province) and two Persian populations who living in Shiraz (Fars province) and Frydoonshahr. Study subjects consisted of 401 unrelated healthy individuals. From these 121 were Georgians. The remaining subjects were Persians from either Frydoonshahr (n = 34) or Shiraz (n = 246). The genetic polymorphism of GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTO2 N412D was detected by PCR-based method. The frequency of GSTT1 null genotype in Georgian and Persians of Frydoonshahr and Shiraz was 15.7, 35.2 and 24.8%, respectively. There was significant difference between these populations for the distributions of the GSTT1 genotypes (chi(2) = 7.00, df = 2, P = 0.030). No significant difference was observed between these populations for polymorphisms of GSTM1 (chi(2) = 1.682, df = 2, P = 0.431) and GSTO N142D (chi(2) = 4.622, df = 4, P = 0.328). The prevalence of GSTT1 null genotype in Iranian Georgians showed significant difference with Persians and other Asian countries, but it seems to be similar with the frequency which was reported from European populations.