Association of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 polymorphisms on the susceptibility of diabetic retinopathy in the Bangladeshi population

Objectives This study investigated the role of glutathione-S-transferase gene (GSTM1 and GSTT1) polymorphisms in the predisposition of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with or without diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods The case-control study included 188 subjects: 50 T2DM with DR, 63 T2DM without DR, and 75 healthy individuals' presenting no clinical signs or evidence of diabetes mellitus. Zinc and magnesium levels were measured using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and the lipid profile was evaluated using standard methods. The gene polymorphism of GSTs was performed by the multiplex-PCR method. Results Compared to the control, DR and T2DM had considerably greater total cholesterol, LDL-C, and decreased HDL-C levels. Magnesium levels were significantly lower in DR and T2DM than in control. Total cholesterol, LDL, TG, and magnesium levels didn't differ significantly between DR and T2DM groups. In DR, the GSTT1-null genotype was more prevalent than in T2DM subjects and controls (26.0%, 12.7%, and 10.7%, respectively). GSTT1-null genotype was considerably more common in DR than in controls and associated with 2.94-folds enhancing the chance of developing DR (OR = 2.94; 95% CI = 1.12-7.75; p = 0.02). However, the recurrence of GSTM1-null genotype was not clearly distinguishable among these three populations (28.0%, 38.1% and 29.3%, respectively) and not particularly prone to the risk of DR compared to T2DM subjects and controls (OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.28-1.41; p = 0.26; OR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.42-2.07; p = 0.87, respectively). Conclusions Taken together, these findings suggest the potential role of GSTT1 deletion mutation as a risk factor for the vulnerability of DR among T2DM patients in the Bangladeshi population.