Role of Glutathione-S-Transferase Polymorphism on Arsenic Induced DNA Hypermethylation

Abstract

People chronically exposed to environmental arsenic through their drinking water experience various arsenic induced clinical manifestations and there is modulation of methylation level in their genome. However the response varies widely among persons. The present manuscript deals with the evaluation of role of individual's GST status in altering the degree of DNA methylation after chronic arsenic exposure in human. To study whether Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) gene polymorphism plays any role in this variation, a total of 92 study subjects were recruited from the villages of southern region of West Bengal, India. Concentration of arsenic in their urine and water, extent of clinical manifestation, GST status and p53 and p16 gene promoter methylation status were determined. Results showed that genetic polymorphism of GSTM1 and T1 were significantly associated (p<0.05) with degree of methylation in p53 and p16 gene promoter region and urinary arsenic in higher exposure group. Persons having null genotype have significantly decreased urinary arsenic and increased DNA methylation level relative to persons with GSTM1 or GSTT1 nonnull genotype of same arsenic exposure group. In the present work we are therefore trying to show that individual's GST polymorphic status may alter the degree of DNA methylation after arsenic exposure.