Serum glutathione S-transferase P1 1 in prediction of cardiac function

Glutathione S-transferase P1 1 (GSTP1) belongs to the multigene isozyme family involved in cellular response to oxidative stress and apoptosis. Our initial retrospective proteomic analysis suggested that GSTP1 is associated with heart failure (HF). Although pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) serves currently as a surrogate diagnostic and prognostic parameter in HF patients, its specificity remains uncertain. We hypothesized that GSTP1 might be a useful serum marker in the monitoring of HF patients.

Serum GSTP1 and proBNP were prospectively measured in 193 patients subdivided based on their ejection fraction (EF) either in equal-sized quintiles or predefined EF groups >52%, 43%-52%, 33%-42%, 23%-32% and ≤22%. At a cutoff of ≥231 ng/mL, GSTP1 identified HF patients with EF ≤22% with 81% sensitivity and 83% specificity, and at a cutoff of ≥655 pg/mL, proBNP identified the same patient group with 84% sensitivity and 22% specificity. GSTP1 at a ≥126 ng/mL cutoff identified EF ≤42% with 90% sensitivity and 95% specificity, or proBNP at a ≥396 pg/mL cutoff had 97% sensitivity and 20% specificity. In regression analyses, GSTP1, but not proBNP, discriminated between EF ≤42% and EF >42% in HF patients.

These results suggest that GSTP1 is strongly associated with HF and could serve as a sensitive and specific marker to predict the ventricular function in HF patients.