Association of glutathione S-transferases polymorphisms (GSTM1 and GSTT1) with senile cataract: a meta-analysis
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Spectrophotometric Screening for Potential Inhibitors of Cytosolic Glutathione S-Transferases
Published on: October 10, 2020
1Department of Ophthalmology, Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Purpose:
Glutathione S-transferase (GST) polymorphisms have been considered risk factors for the development of senile cataract. However, the results are not consistent. In this study, the authors conducted a meta-analysis to assess the association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes and the risk for senile cataract.
Methods:
Published literature from PubMed, EMBASE, and other databases were retrieved. All studies evaluating the association between GSTM1/GSTT1 polymorphisms and senile cataract were included. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects model.
Results:
Eleven studies on GSTM1 (1871 cases and 1267 controls) and five studies on GSTT1 (1180 cases, 706 controls) were included. Overall analysis showed that the association between GSTM1 null genotype and risk for senile cataract is not statistically significant (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.99-1.94; P = 0.054) and that the association between GSTT1 null genotype and risk for senile cataract is not significant (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.87-1.36; P = 0.454). Subgroup analysis showed that the association between GSTM1 null genotype and risk for senile cataract is statistically significant in Asians (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.03-2.67; P = 0.039) but not in Caucasians (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.74-1.96; P = 0.443). Similar results were observed for the association between GSTT1 null genotype and risk for senile cataract.
Conclusions:
The present meta-analysis suggested that GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are associated with increased risk for senile cataract in Asian populations but not in Caucasian populations. Given the limited sample size, the finding on GST polymorphisms merits further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Phase II Reactions: Glutathione Conjugation and Mercapturic Acid Formation
Several distinctive characteristics distinguish glutathione conjugation from other phase II...
Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Transporters: P-Glycoprotein and Solute Carrier Transporters
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
