Glutathione S-transferases gene polymorphisms and risk of male idiopathic infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Molecular biology reports Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 2431 - 2438
• Main Authors: Li, Xin, Pan, Jinhong, Liu, Qigui, Xiong, Enqing, Chen, Zhiwen, Zhou, Zhansong, Su, Yongping, Lu, Gensheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Case-Control Studies; Enzymes; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Genotype & phenotype; Glutathione S-Transferase pi - genetics; Glutathione Transferase - genetics; Histology; Humans; Infertility; Infertility, Male - ethnology; Infertility, Male - genetics; Life Sciences; Male; Mens health; Molecular biology; Morphology; Odds Ratio; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic; Publication Bias; Risk; Risk factors; transferases; Male idiopathic infertility; Polymorphisms; Glutathione; Meta-analysis
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-012-2323-3

The Glutathione S -transferases ( GSTs ) polymorphisms have been implicated in susceptibility to male idiopathic infertility, but study results are still controversial. To investigate the genetic associations between GSTs polymorphisms and risk of male idiopathic infertility, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. Meta-analysis was performed by pooling odds ratio (OR) with its corresponding 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) form studies in electronic databases up to March 16, 2012. Glutathione S -transferase M 1 ( GSTM1 ) null genotype, Glutathione S -transferase T 1 ( GSTT1 ) null genotype, and dual null genotype of GSTM1/GSTT1 were analyzed independently. 14 eligible studies with a total of 1,845 idiopathic infertility males and 1,729 controls were included. There were 13 studies on GSTM1 polymorphism, 10 ones on GSTT1 polymorphism and 5 ones on GSTM1 - GSTT1 interaction analysis. Meta-analyses of total relevant studies showed GSTM1 null genotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of male idiopathic infertility (OR = 1.40, 95 % CI 1.07–1.84, P OR  = 0.015). The GSTM1 - GSTT1 interaction analysis showed dual null genotype of GSTM1/GSTT1 was also significantly associated with increased risk of male idiopathic infertility (OR = 1.85, 95 % CI 1.07–3.21, P OR  = 0.028). Subgroup analyses by ethnicity showed the associations above were still statistically significant in Caucasians (For GSTM1 , OR = 1.51, 95 % CI 1.11–2.05, P OR  = 0.009; For GSTM1/GSTT1 , OR = 2.10, 95 % CI 1.51–2.91, P OR  < 0.001). This meta-analysis suggests GSTM1 null genotype contributes to increased risk of male idiopathic infertility in Caucasians, and males with dual null genotype of GSTM1/GSTT1 are particularly susceptible to developing idiopathic infertility.