Enzymatic activity induction of GST-family isoenzymes from pesticide mixture used in floriculture.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) comprise a number of genes that codify for a group of isoenzymes that participate in phase II xenobiotic detoxification by means of conjugation with glutathione, producing hydrosoluble compounds. It has been demonstrated that some pesticides are substrates for GST isoenzymes. Floriculture is one of the main economic activities in the municipalities of Villa Guerrero and Atlacomulco; pesticides, applied as mixtures, are intensively used in this activity. In this study, total GST enzymatic activity and glutathione S-transferases theta 1 (GSTT1) enzymatic activity were calculated for a group of floriculture workers exposed to pesticides and for an unexposed group. The former comprised 169 floriculture workers, while the latter, 96 students. The value of the median GST enzymatic activity in the exposed group was 0.560 and 0.169 µmol/min/mL in the unexposed individuals. GSTT1 activity was 1.234 µmol/min/mL in the exposed group and 0.221 µmol/min/mL in the unexposed group. Mann-Whitney U test showed a significant difference between these groups, for both total GST and GSTT1, p < 0.001. Our results show that exposure to pesticides increases the activities of total GST and GSTT1 enzymes.

Relationship between paraoxonase/glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphism and health conditions of floriculture farmers / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective In this study we conducted a cross-sectional study and reported on the distribution of two common genetic polymorphisms of the PON1 gene and two common genetic polymorphisms of the GST gene as well as the association between those polymorphisms and other predictors in a population of floriculture workers from Kunming city. Methods 136 pesticide-exposed farmers were recruited. PON1 and GST T1, M1 genotype were determined by means of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results (1)Compared with exposure group, the GLB in control group was higher(β=-0.16,t=-2.30, P=0.02), but the A/G in control group was lower (β=0.14,t=2.09,P=0.04); (2) Compared with the persons who carried QQ genotype, the accumulative symptom scores were lower in the persons who carried RR genotype(t=-2.78, P=0.006); (3) Compared with GST T1 carriers, non-carriers' GLB (β=-0.20, t=-3.01, P=0.00)and IgG(β=-0.20,t=-3.01, P=0.00)were higher, but the A/G was lower; (4) The abnormities of cardiograms among people who had been exposed to pesticides were higher compared to people who did not expose to any pesticides (β=1.147, P=0.042). Conclusion PON1-192 and GST T1 gene were associated with the farmers health condition after pesticides exposure.