We have studied the influence of genetic polymorphisms in the xenobiotic-metabolizing genes GSTM1, GSTP1, GSTT1, EPHX1, NAT1 and NAT2 and the folate-metabolizing genes MTR and MTHFR on the frequencies of cells with chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in peripheral lymphocytes of Norwegian men.
N-Acetyltransferase (NAT2) slow acetylation genotype and glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) null genotype seem to elevate the baseline level of CAs and SCEs and CAs, respectively--possibly because of reduced capacity to detoxify some wide-spread or endogenous genotoxins.
The effect of the GSTM1 genotype, which was observed only in the bus drivers, appears to be associated with air pollution, whereas the NAT2 genotype effect, which affected all subjects, may influence the individual response to some other common exposure or the baseline level of chromosomal aberrations.
Cytogenetic markers (chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), cells with high frequency of SCE (HFC), the heterogeneity index SCE (SCE-H) and genetic polymorphism of genotypes GSTM1 and NAT2 were evaluated in the peripheral lymphocytes of 64 coke oven workers and 34 control subjects from the same plant.