GSTM1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms as potential factors for modifying the effect of smoking on inflammatory response

Inflammation has been known to be an important underlying condition for development of various diseases including cancer. The aims of this study were to investigate whether tobacco smoke exposure increases the level of inflammation biomarkers and the GSTM1 and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms are associated with inflammatory response due to tobacco smoke exposure. We measured urinary cotinine level in 300 healthy university students. Total serum TNF-alpha levels and blood WBC counts were determined to evaluate inflammatory response. Allelic loss of the GSTM1 and the GSTP1 (Ile105Val) polymorphism were determined by PCR and RFLP. Tobacco smoke exposure was found to be associated with increase of both TNF-alpha level and WBC count. Particularly, smokers with combination of GSTM1 null and GSTP1 AG or GG genotypes showed higher TNF-alpha level than those with the other genotype combinations (p=0.07). This result suggests that smoking may induce inflammation measured as TNF-alpha level or WBC count and combinations of the GSTM1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms may modify the effect of smoking on serum TNF-alpha level.