Influence of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 polymorphisms with acute rejection in Iranian liver transplant recipients.

Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) has a major protective role against free radicals and plays a vital role in phase II of biotransformation of many substances. In liver transplantation, reperfusion injury, calcineurin drug consumption and infection produce free radicals that cause tissue injury and organ damage. Genetic variations of GST may influence individual susceptibility to some diseases associated with the deleterious effects of oxidative metabolism. Although it is well known that the rejection is an immunological process, however, in this study, we have investigated the gene frequency and relationship between human GST gene polymorphism and rejection in liver transplant recipients. We have assessed 51 liver transplant recipients from Shiraz, South of Iran. The GSTT1 and GSTM1 genotypes were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The gene frequency of GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphism were evaluated. We observed that GSTM1 null genotype was present in 68.62% of the liver transplant recipients while GSTT1 null genotype was present in 37.25% of the liver transplant subjects. There was a trend between increasing age and acute rejection episode. No statistically significant correlation was present between GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotypes with an acute rejection episode in transplant recipients. No relationship was observed between GST genotypes and acute rejection. It is likely that development and progression of rejection are determined by genes which is involved in immunological pathways rather than genes that is participated in free radicals destruction. However, these findings need to be confirmed in a larger series of patients.