The role of glutathione S- transferase M1 and T1 gene polymorphisms and oxidative stress-related parameters in Egyptian patients with essential hypertension

Background: Essential hypertension is a complex, multifactorial, polygenic disease in which the underlying genetic components remain unknown. Glutathione S-transferase (CST) enzyme is involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species. This study aimed to investigate GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms in Egyptian essential hypertensive patients and their relationship with oxidative stress-related parameters. Methods: The study included 40 newly-diagnosed, untreated, essential hypertensive patients and 40 normotensive subjects. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitrate/nitrite and erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH), activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured. Genotyping for GSTM1 and GSTT1 was performed. Results: The frequency of GSTM1+ve/GSTT1+ve in hypertensives (5%) was lower than in normotensives (37.5%).The frequency of GSTM1-ve/GSTT1-ve was elevated in hypertensives (35%) as compared to normotensives (7.5%). Plasma MDA was higher and nitrate/nitrite was lower in hypertensives than in normotensives. Erythrocyte GSH, activities of CAT, SOD, GSH-Px, and CST of hypertensives were lower than normotensives. Moreover, CST activity was lower in subjects with GSTM1-ve/GSTT1-ve than in those with GSTM1+ve/GSTT1+ve. In hypertensives, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were negatively correlated with activities of CAT, GSH-Px, and GST. Conclusions: GSTM1-ve/GSTT1-ve is a potential genetic factor to predict development of essential hypertension and permit early therapeutic intervention. The significant association between blood pressure and oxidative stress-related parameters indicates the pathogenic role of oxidative stress in hypertension. Antioxidants could be useful in the management of essential hypertension to prevent progressive deterioration and target organ damage however, further studies involving long-term clinical trials may help to assess the efficacy of these therapeutic agents. (C) 2009 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.