To elucidate the role of genetic factors in arsenic metabolism, we investigated associations of
genetic polymorphisms in the members of glutathione S-transferase (GST) superfamily with the arsenic
concentrations in hair and urine, and urinary arsenic profile in residents in the Red River Delta, Vietnam.
Genotyping was conducted for GST ??1 (GSTO1) Ala140Asp, Glu155del, Glu208Lys, Thr217Asn, and
Ala236Val, GST ??2 (GSTO2) Asn142Asp, GST ??1 (GSTP1) Ile105Val, GST ?1 (GSTM1) wild/null, and
GST ??1 (GSTT1) wild/null. There were no mutation alleles for GSTO1 Glu208Lys, Thr217Asn, and
Ala236Val in this population. GSTO1 Glu155del hetero type showed higher urinary concentration of AsV
than the wild homo type. Higher percentage of DMAV in urine of GSTM1 wild type was observed
compared with that of the null type. Strong correlations between GSTP1 Ile105Val and arsenic exposure
level and profile were observed in this study. Especially, heterozygote of GSTP1 Ile105Val had a higher
metabolic capacity from inorganic arsenic to monomethyl arsenic, while the opposite trend was observed for
ability of metabolism from AsV to AsIII. Furthermore, other factors including sex, age, body mass index,
arsenic level in drinking water, and genotypes of As (+ 3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) were
also significantly co-associated with arsenic level and profile in the Vietnamese. To our knowledge, this is
the first study indicating the associations of genetic factors of GST superfamily with arsenic metabolism in a
Vietnamese population. ?? 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
