GSTM1 and TNF-@a gene polymorphisms and relations between blood lead and inflammatory markers in a non-occupational population [An article from: ... Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis]

This digital document is a journal article from Mut.Res.-Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, published by Elsevier in 2007. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
Inflammation is known to be an important underlying condition in the development of a variety of diseases. To investigate whether blood lead induces inflammatory reactions in non-occupationally exposed adults and the effects of genetic susceptibility associated with GSTM1 and TNF-@a gene polymorphisms on this inflammatory response, we measured blood lead levels in 300 healthy university students. Total serum TNF-@a and IL-6 levels and WBC counts were determined to evaluate the inflammatory response. Allelic loss of GSTM1 and the TNF-@a-308 G>A polymorphism were determined by PCR and RFLP. Positive relations between blood lead and three inflammation biomarkers were shown in male subjects with blood lead >=2.51@mg/dl (median value) (TNF-@a, p=0.015; IL-6, p=0.082; and WBC, p=0.044). However, subgroup analysis by genotype showed an effect of blood lead on the three biomarkers only in individuals with the GSTM1 null (TNF-@a, p=0.020; IL-6, p=0.096; and WBC, p=0.017) or TNF-@a GG (TNF-@a, p=0.017; IL-6, p=0.088; and WBC, p=0.095) genotype, and not in individuals with GSTM1 present (all three inflammatory biomarkers, p>0.1) or the TNF-@a GA or AA (all three biomarkers, p>0.1) genotype. These results suggest that blood lead affects the inflammatory response and that GSTM1 and TNF-@a gene polymorphisms are genetic factors associated with lead-induced inflammatory response.