Study of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) T1 and M1 genes in aluminum industry workers with comorbid cardiovascular pathology

Abstract

Introduction. Employees of the main professions of aluminum production have a high level of professional and production-related pathology, primarily diseases of the circulatory system associated with the long-term influence of vasotoxic factors on the body. The pathogenetic course of angiopathies does not proceed in isolation, it is predetermined by chronic fluoride intoxication and hereditary component. The establishment of associations determined on the basis of studying the polymorphism of glutathione-S-transferase genes with the risk of developing comorbid cardiovascular pathology makes it possible to use genetic analysis in its early diagnosis.
 The study aims to explore the polymorphism of GST genes in aluminum industry workers with comorbid cardiovascular pathology.
 Materials and methods. The authors have carried out the study using clinical and molecular genetic diagnostic methods in workers of the main professions engaged in the production of aluminum, with chronic occupational intoxication with fluorine compounds and persons with individual signs of fluoride exposure to the skeleton (comparison group). By detecting extended deletions in the loci of the GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes, the researchers have assessed the association of the studied genotypes with the risk of chronic intoxication and atherosclerosis.
 Results. In the cohort of patients (36.58%) and in the comparison group (16.98%), the authors have revealed a combined form of cardiomyopathy complicated by coronary atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease. Also, scientists have established significant differences in the frequency distribution of genotypes of GST genes. Homozygous polymorphism GSTT1 0/0 is a risk factor for the development of occupational pathology against the background of the predominance of the normal genotype GSTM1+. Predictors (GSTT1 0/0, GSTM1 0/0) of the risk of atherosclerosis associated with hypertension in persons with chronic fluoride intoxication were determined.
 Conclusion. The association of GST genes with the development of comorbid cardiovascular pathology was determined in the structure of professional and production-related pathology in aluminum industry workers.
 Ethics. We have conducted the study of employees at the aluminum plant on a voluntary basis with the written consent of the examined persons on the basis of a specialized clinic of the Research Institute of Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases in accordance with the Ethical principles of conducting scientific and medical research with human participation ("Rules of Clinical Practice in the Russian Federation", Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 266, 2003; Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association "Ethical principles of conducting scientific medical research with human participation", 2013).