GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE M1 GENOTYPE AND AGE-RELATED CATARACTS LACK OF ASSOCIATION IN AN ITALIAN POPULATION

Purpose. To investigate possible associations between the gene number and allelic forms of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and the occu rrence of nuclear and cortical age-related cataracts. Methods. Patient s with cortical cataract, nuclear cataract, mixed nuclear and cortical cataract, and no cataract were systematically selected from subjects evaluated in the Italian-American Study of the Natural History of Age- Related Cataract. The patients were typed for the A, B, and null allel es of GSTM1 using a variation of the amplification refractory mutation system. Results. Forty-nine percent of patients (50/102) with cortica l cataracts, 45% (13/29) with nuclear cataracts, 51% (36/71) with mixe d nuclear and cortical cataracts, and 50% of controls (49/98) were hom ozygous for the null GSTM1 allele. Twenty-five percent of patients (26 /102) with cortical cataracts, 24% (7/29) with nuclear cataracts, 31% with mixed nuclear and cortical cataracts, and 21% of controls (26/98) displayed only the A allele for GSTM1. Twenty-four percent of patient s (24/102) with cortical cataract, 24% (7/29) with nuclear cataracts, 14% (10/71) with mixed nuclear and cortical cataracts, and 18% of cont rols showed only the B allele for GSTM1. Two percent of patients (2/10 2) with cortical cataracts, 7% (2/29) with nuclear cataracts, 4% (3/71 ) with mixed nuclear and cortical cataracts, and 5% of controls (5/98) showed both A and B alleles for GSTM1. Conclusions. No associations b etween the GSTM1 alleles, including the null allele, and cataracts wer e detected in this study.