Exposure to pesticides and heterozygote genotype of GSTP1-Alw 261 are associated to Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the frequency of GSTP1-Alw 261 polymorphism and to estimate its association with toxic substances in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: A study group with 154 patients - subdivided into familial and sporadic PD groups - and 158 elderly individuals without the disease (control group) were evaluated. GSTP1-Alw 261 polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: Patients were significantly more exposed to pesticides compared with the control group (p=0.0004), and the heterozygote genotype associated to exposure to pesticides also prevailed in patients (p=0.0001). Wild homozygote genotype was related to tobacco use (p=0.043) and alcoholism (p=0.033) in familial PD patients. Conclusion: Exposure to pesticides is associated to PD, whose effect can be enhanced when combined with the heterozygote genotype of GSTP1-Alw 261. Also, large genetic and environmental studies considering tobacco use, alcoholism, GSTP1 and PD are necessary to confirm our findings.