Affiliations: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Medical
Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain | Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal
University, Ismailia, Egypt | Salmaniya Medical Complex, Ministry of Health, Manama, Bahrain | Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and
Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain | Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College
of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Abdel Halim Salem, Department
of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University,
22979 Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. Tel.: +973 17239650; Fax: +973 17271090;
E-mail: ahaleemfd@agu.edu.bh
Abstract: Deletion polymorphisms for the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene
are associated with increased risk of cancer, and are implicated in detoxifying
mutagenic electrophilic compounds. GST Polymorphic variants were reported for
different populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequencies
of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes among Bahraini, Lebanese and
Tunisian Arabs. GST genotyping was done by multiplex PCR-based methods. Study
subjects comprised 167 Bahrainis, 141 Lebanese and 186 Tunisians unrelated
healthy individuals. GSTM1 deletion homozygosity of 49.7%, 52.5%
and 63.4% were recorded for Bahraini, Lebanese and Tunisians, respectively.
Among Bahrainis, the prevalence of GSTT1 null homozygotes was 28.7%,
while in higher rates were seen in Lebanese (37.6%) and Tunisians
(37.1%). Our results indicate that there are no major differences in allelic
distribution of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes between the three Arab
populations investigated except between Bahrainis and Tunisians regarding the
allelic distribution of GSTM1 gene (P=0.013). Combined analysis of
both genes revealed that 14.4% of Bahrainis, 16.3% of Lebanese and
21.0% of Tunisians harbor the deleted genotype of both genes. This is the
first study that addresses GST gene polymorphism in Bahraini and Lebanese
Arabs, and will help genetic studies on the association of GSTM1 and
GSTT1 polymorphisms with disease risks and drug effects in Arab populations.
