Jarmila Vojtková, Miriam Čiljaková, Peter Ďurdík, Zuzana Michnová, Tomáš Turčan, Eva Babušíková
Background: Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) represents a family of enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and also in antioxidant mechanisms. Oxidative stress, as an imbalance between reactive oxygen species origin and antioxidant activity, is discussed in the aetiopathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its chronic complications. Null polymorphisms of GST are associated with significantly lower activity of these enzymes. The aim of the work was to establish the influence of GST T1 and M1 gene polymorphisms on biochemical parameters in children with T1D. Subjects and methods: 116 subjects with T1D at the age 6-19 years were enrolled to the study. Basic anthropometric, biochemical parameters (glycosylated haemoglobin, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerol, creatinine, uric acid, bilirubin, microalbuminury) and null/+ polymorphisms of GST T1 and M1 were investigated in each patient. The results were statistically processed by program SYSTAT. Results: Diabetic patients with GST T1 null allele had significantly higher concentration of total cholesterol (4.75 mmol/l median, 4.10 - 5.43 IQR vs. 4.22 median, 3.61 - 4.72 IQR, p < 0.01), LDL cholesterol (2.81 mmol/l median, 2.02 - 3.60 IQR vs. 2.27 median, 1.73 - 2.80 IQR, p < 0.05) and microalbuminury (5.05 mg/l median, 2.00 - 18.95 IQR vs. 3.20 median, 0.60 - 11.35 IQR, p < 0.05) compared to the patients with GST T1 + allele. No significant difference was found in other biochemical parameters. Diabetic subjects with GST M1 null allele did not significantly differ in any biochemical parameter compared to the subjects with GST M1 + allele. Conclusion: According to our results, GST T1 gene polymorphisms influence the concentration of cholesterol and microalbuminury in children with T1D. Further studies are necessary to clarify detailed associations like the influence on chronic microvascular and macrovascular complications.