Sex Bias and Effect of Glutathione S-Transferase Mu1 and Theta 1 genotypes in Drug Resistance Tuberculosis

Abstract

Purpose: Genotypes of human Glutathione S-Transferase Mu1 (GSTM1) and Theta 1 (GSTT1) have been reported to associate with drug resistance in cancer patients and also reported to influence the severity of malaria. This work aims to assess the effect of sex and human glutathione transferase null genotypes on TB drug resistance. The objectives were to determine the association between sex and TB drug resistance and to find the association of Glutathione null genotypes with TB Drug resistance.

Design/Methodology/ Approach: A total of 81 TB patients on treatment were purposively recruited in a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Among them 41% (n= 33) were known DR-TB patients (cases) while 59% (n=48) were non-resistance Tb patients (control). Data on genotypes of human GST Mu1 and Theta1 were generated using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Descriptive statistics were used to determine the frequency distribution of the genotypes. The association of sex of research participants and human GST Mu 1 and Theta 1 genotypes with drug resistance to DR-TB were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model at a confidence level of 95% and the significance of results were judged at p-value less than 0.05.  Findings: Sex of patients significantly associated with increased risk to DR-TB (OR 5.51, 95% CI: 1.88-16.17, P= 0.002) while GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes did not statistically associate with drug resistance in tuberculosis (P=0.418). Frequencies of GSTM1, GSTT1 and combined GSTM1/GST1 null genotypes were higher in DR-TB patients (39.4%, 42.4% and 21.21% respectively) against (31.3%, 39.6% and 12.5%, respectively) in controls. Sex of TB patients significantly associated with Drug resistance Tuberculosis while GSTT1 and M1 genotypes did not associate with DR-TB.

Research Limitation/Implication: This study has therefore explored the effect of human GSTs and the association of gender with drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Practical Implications: Sex is an important factor to consider in the management of MDR-TB patients.

Originality/ Value: Understanding the association of sex and human genetic factors associated with drug resistance to tuberculosis is also an important way of controlling the disease.