Objective: To investigate the distribution of glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) genes polymorphisms in Chinese population and smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases of Jilin province.
Methods: Articles about GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes polymorphisms published before 2009 in China were searched. The study population was obtained from fourteen counties (or districts) of Jilin province, which included all cases from November, 2007 to May, 2008, totally 1120. The genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 were detected by multiplex PCR technique.
Results: The frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 'null' genotypes and combination M1-T1 'null' genotype acquired from systematic review were 54.2%, 46.8% and 26.2%, respectively, in Chinese Hans they were 53.4%, 44.9% and 25.5%, and in our research they are 57.2%, 20.4% and 13.7%, respectively. No significant differences between the frequencies of males and females as well as among that of different age groups were observed (P > 0.05). The frequency of GSTM1 'null' genotype in our research is slightly higher than that in systematic review (P = 0.016) , and the frequencies of GSTT1 'null' genotype and combination M1-T1 'null' genotype and are significantly lower than those in systematic review (both P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 'null' genotypes were different among ethnic. The statistical difference between systematic review and our research may due to our large sample size and mostly Southern people in previous studies.