Title:Glutathione S Transferase Theta1 and Mu1 (GSTT1 and GSTM1)
Deletion Among Autistic Population of India
Volume: 20
Issue: 2
Author(s): Rajat Hegde*, Smita Hegde, Suyamindra S. Kulkarni, Kusal K. Das and Pramod B. Gai*
Affiliation:
- Laboratory of Vascular Physiology and Medicine, Department of Physiology, Shri B.M Patil Medical
College, Hospital and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura, 586101,
Karnataka, India
- Karnataka Institute for DNA Research (KIDNAR), Dharwad, 580003,
Karnataka, India
- Karnataka Institute for DNA Research (KIDNAR), Dharwad, 580003,
Karnataka, India
Keywords:
Autism, glutathione S transferase (GST), GSTT1 null genotype, GSTM1 null genotype, Oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species.
Abstract:
Introduction: Oxidative stress is an imbalance between an organism's reactive oxygen
species (ROS) production and antioxidant defence capacity. Long-term oxidative stress
contributes to cellular ageing and plays a role in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Several
investigations indicated that oxidative stress has a role in the pathogenesis of ASD.
Objectives: Present study was undertaken to record the association of GSTTT1 and GSTM1 null
genotype among the autistic population of India.
Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from 108 autistic children along with healthy agematched
control. The quality and quantity of the isolated genomic DNA were analysed. GSTT1
and GSTM1 null genotype was analysed using polymerase chain reaction with internal positive
control. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 15.0.
Results: Present study included 85 males and 23 females with a mean age of 11.7 ± 3.5 and 75
males and 33 females with a mean age of 11 ± 2.0 in the control group. 32 (29.6%) autistic
cases showed null genotypes for GSTT1 and 21(19.4%) autistic children showed null genotypes
for GSTM1. 3 (2.85%) control children showed a null genotype for GSTT1 and 5 (4.6%) control
children showed a null genotype for GSTM1. The GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes were
observed to be significantly associated with the risk of autism (p value-0.0001, OR-14.73, 95%
CI 4.35-49.90) and (p value-0.003, OR-4.731, 95% CI 1.71-13.08) respectively.
Conclusion: The findings of our study suggested that GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotype is one
of the potential risk factors for autism through oxidative stress mechanism in our population.
