Association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 Deletion Variants with Susceptibility to Behçet’s Disease in a Saudi Population: A Case Control Study
- 1Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Research and Innovation Institute, Ministry of Defense Health Services, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia
- 2Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia
- 3Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disorder in which genetic susceptibility and oxidative stress may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes play an important role in cellular antioxidant defense. Deletion variants of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 result in loss of enzyme activity and may influence susceptibility to BD. A case control study was conducted including 79 patients with BD (n = 79) and 100 controls (n = 100) from Saudi Arabia. Genotyping of GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion variants was performed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Genotype frequencies were compared using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The frequency of GSTM1− null genotype was significantly more frequent in BD cases than in controls (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.15–3.85; p = 0.016; adjusted OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.24–5.07; p = 0.010; corrected p = 0.021). The GSTT1− null genotype was also more frequent (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.63–5.89; p = 0.001; adjusted OR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.08–4.68; p = 0.030), although this association did not remain significant after Bonferroni correction (corrected p = 0.060). Combined genotype analysis showed a significant association for GSTM1−/GSTT1− (OR = 6.90, 95% CI = 2.65–17.98; p < 0.001; adjusted OR = 6.35, 95% CI = 1.89–21.35; p = 0.003) compared with the GSTM1+/GSTT1+ genotype, which remained significant after Bonferroni correction (corrected p = 0.008). Stratified analyses did not demonstrate a clear association between GST deletion variants and disease activity or gender. The present study suggests that the GSTM1− genotype and the combined GSTM1−/GSTT1− genotype are significantly associated with susceptibility to BD in the Saudi population, independent of age and sex.
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BibTeX
@article{mustafa2026association,
title = {{Association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 Deletion Variants with Susceptibility to Behçet’s Disease in a Saudi Population: A Case Control Study}},
author = {Mohammad Mustafa and Sarah Alkathiri and Seham Alrashidi and Shoug F. Algoblan and Fahdah Alokaily},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27219568},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9568},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 Deletion Variants with Susceptibility to Behçet’s Disease in a Saudi Population: A Case Control Study
AU - Mohammad Mustafa
AU - Sarah Alkathiri
AU - Seham Alrashidi
AU - Shoug F. Algoblan
AU - Fahdah Alokaily
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27219568
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9568
AB - Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disorder in which genetic susceptibility and oxidative stress may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes play an important role in cellular antioxidant defense. Deletion variants of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 result in loss of enzyme activity and may influence susceptibility to BD. A case control study was conducted including 79 patients with BD (n = 79) and 100 controls (n = 100) from Saudi Arabia. Genotyping of GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion variants was performed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Genotype frequencies were compared using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The frequency of GSTM1− null genotype was significantly more frequent in BD cases than in controls (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.15–3.85; p = 0.016; adjusted OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.24–5.07; p = 0.010; corrected p = 0.021). The GSTT1− null genotype was also more frequent (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.63–5.89; p = 0.001; adjusted OR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.08–4.68; p = 0.030), although this association did not remain significant after Bonferroni correction (corrected p = 0.060). Combined genotype analysis showed a significant association for GSTM1−/GSTT1− (OR = 6.90, 95% CI = 2.65–17.98; p < 0.001; adjusted OR = 6.35, 95% CI = 1.89–21.35; p = 0.003) compared with the GSTM1+/GSTT1+ genotype, which remained significant after Bonferroni correction (corrected p = 0.008). Stratified analyses did not demonstrate a clear association between GST deletion variants and disease activity or gender. The present study suggests that the GSTM1− genotype and the combined GSTM1−/GSTT1− genotype are significantly associated with susceptibility to BD in the Saudi population, independent of age and sex.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -