GST Theta null genotype is associated with an increased risk for ulcerative colitis: a case–control study and meta-analysis of GST Mu and GST Theta polymorphisms in inflammatory bowel disease

Glutathione S -transferases (GSTs) are important in the detoxification of many compounds, including reactive oxygen species. Polymorphisms in GSTs resulting in a decreased enzyme activity might enhance the risk for inflammatory bowel disease by eliciting a state of oxidative stress. Previous case–control studies showed divergent results and were frequently limited in sample size; therefore we conducted a meta-analysis including results from our case–control study. For the case–control study, we genotyped 552 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), 223 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 972 healthy controls by PCR for functional deletions in GST Mu and GST Theta. Both were not analyzed in recent genome-wide association studies. For the meta-analysis, PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched. In this meta-analysis, we show an enhanced susceptibility for UC in individuals with the GSTT1null genotype (odds ratio (OR) 2.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31–3.92). In our case–control study, a reduced risk for CD was seen with the GSTT1null genotype (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.43–0.77); however, pooled analysis showed an OR of 1.67, 95% CI 0.81–3.45. In this meta-analysis, we showed an increased risk for UC in individuals with the GSTT1null genotype.