Glutathione -Transferase Genotype Protects against Tobacco-linked Lung Function Deficits.

tobacco exposure is associated with reduced lung function from infancy. Antioxidant enzymes from the glutathione -transferase (GST) family may protect against these lung function deficits. To assess the long-term effect of smoke exposure on lung function into adulthood, and to assess whether and active genotypes have long-term protective effects on lung function. In this longitudinal study based on a general population ( = 253), lung function was measured during infancy and at 6, 11, 18, and 24 years. and genotype was analyzed in a subgroup ( = 179). Lung function was assessed longitudinally from 6 to 24 years ( = 199). Exposure to maternal tobacco was associated with lower FEV and FVC longitudinally from 6 to 24 years (mean difference, -3.87% predicted,  = 0.021; -3.35% predicted,  = 0.035, respectively). Among those homozygous for the null genotype, tobacco exposure was associated with lower FEV and FVC compared with those with no tobacco exposure (mean difference, -6.2% predicted,  = 0.01; -4.7% predicted,  = 0.043, respectively). For those with active genotype, there was no difference in lung function whether exposed to maternal tobacco or not. tobacco exposure was associated with deficits in lung function among those with both null and -active genotypes. Certain GST genotypes may have protective effects against the long-term deficits in lung function associated with tobacco exposure. This offers potential preventative targets in antioxidant pathways for at-risk infants of smoking mothers.