OBJECTIVE

to determine the relationship between polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase gene family andbronchial hyperreactivity in children living in radioactively contaminated areas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

School age children-residents of radioactively contaminated areas (RCA), without clinicalsigns of respiratory pathology were examined. Molecular genetic studies were carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for further analysis. The GSTT1, GSTM1 gene deletion polymorphism was investigated using multiplex PCR. PCR and PCR-RFLP analyses were performed in the studyof the GSTP1 gene A313G polymorphism. The ventilation lung capacity was examined by the pneumotachographicmethod according to the analysis of «the flow-volume» loop. The pharmacologic inhalation test with bronchodilator drug, affecting the β2-adrenergic lung receptors was used to detect the early changes in the ventilation lungcapacity - the bronchial hyperreactivity (latent and nonlatent bronchospasm).

RESULTS

Molecular genetic studies showed that the GSTM1 gene deletion genotype and the GSTP1 gene A313G polymorphism were found significantly more often in the subgroup of children with bronchial hyperreactivity living inRCA than in children without bronchial hyperreactivity and children of the control group. The frequency of GSTT1deletion polymorphism did not have a statistically significant difference in all subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The GSTM1 gene deletion polymorphism and the GSTP1 gene A313G genotype may be a risk factor fordeveloping bronchial hyperreactivity in children living under adverse environmental conditions, including radioactively contaminated areas.