Effects of antioxidant enzyme polymorphisms on ozone-induced lung function changes

¹ These authors contributed equally to this article; and School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
² These authors contributed equally to this article; and Lung Biology Center, Dept of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
³ School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
⁴ Lung Biology Center, Dept of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco; and School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: john.balmes{at}ucsf.edu.

	Abstract

Chronic exposure to O₃ can cause changes in lung function that may reflect remodeling of small airways. Antioxidant enzyme function likely affects susceptibility to O₃. The aim of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms in antioxidant enzyme (GSTM1, GSTP1, NQO1) genes affect the risk of lung function changes related to chronic exposure to O₃.

We genotyped 210 young adults who participated in a previous study that showed a relationship between lifetime exposure to O₃ and decreased lung function. We used multivariable linear regression to model sex-specific associations between genotypes and O₃-related lung function changes, adjusting for height, weight, lifetime exposure to NO₂, PM₁₀, and self-identified race/ethnicity.

The GSTM1-null/NQO1 Pro187Pro-combination genotype was significantly associated with increased risk of an O₃-related decrease in FEF_25–75 in females [parameter estimate (SE): -75 (35) ml·s^-1], while the GSTP1 Val105 variant genotypes were significantly associated with greater risk of an O₃-related decrease in FEF₇₅ in males [-81 (31) ml·s^-1]. GSTM1-null status was not significantly associated with any O₃-related changes in lung function in either sex.

We conclude that the effects of antioxidant enzyme gene polymorphisms on risk of decreased lung function related to chronic exposure to O₃ may be modified by sex-specific factors.

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				A. K. Hamade and C. G. Tankersley Interstrain variation in cardiac and respiratory adaptation to repeated ozone and particulate matter exposures Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2009; 296(4): R1202 - R1215. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]