Association of glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphism with risk of male infertility in Moscow region

About 30% of male infertility is associated with genetic abnormalities. Genetic polymorphisms increase the level of individual susceptibility to adverse environmental factors and affect human reproductive function. AIM: To study associations of glutathione S-transferase GSTP1(Ile/Val) gene polymorphisms (A313G; rs1695) with the risk of pathospermia in men of the Moscow region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 138 men in the Moscow region (n=70 - proven pathospermia, n=68 - fertile men). We obtained genomic DNA from blood leukocytes and studied the gene polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase GSTP1 (Ile/Val) (A313G; rs1695) in real time. RESULTS: In the analysis of the distribution frequencies of polymorphisms GSTP1 (Ile/Val) (A>G rs1695), we revealed the predominance of the AA genotype in fertile men and the predominance of the GG genotype (homozygous minor allele) in men with pathospermia. However, we found no significant difference in these parameters between the compared groups of patients (p=0.344). For GSTP1 (Ile/Val) polymorphism (A313G, rs1695), significant differences in the distribution of genotype frequencies in the subgroup of men with teratospermia (2=7.00; p=0.03) were revealed. The frequency of allele G in the subgroup of men with teratospermia is statistically significantly different from the frequencies of alleles in the control group: 52% versus 30% (2=10,004; p=0.0015). In subgroups of men with azoospermia and asthenospermia, we did not find significant differences in the distribution of genotypes of GSTP1 polymorphism (rs1695) (p>0.05). DISCUSSION: Glutathione-S-transferase (GSTP1) is a multifunctional protein that protects sperm cells from the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species and xenobiotics. The Association of GSTP1 polymorphism (Ile/Val) (A313G, rs1695) with teratospermia explains the main stages of the pathogenesis of male infertility in this category of patients. CONCLUSION: Gene polymorphism GSTP1 (A313G, rs1695) can be considered a genetic marker of susceptibility to pathospermia in men.