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(Stroke. 2007;38:2847.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Research Letters

Association of the Glutathione S-transferase Omega-1 Ala140Asp Polymorphism With Cerebrovascular Atherosclerosis and Plaque-Associated Interleukin-1 Expression

Heike Kölsch, PhD; Sergey Larionov, MD; Oliver Dedeck; Mario Orantes, MD; Gerd Birkenmeier, MD; W. Sue T. Griffin, PhD Dietmar Rudolf Thal, MD

From the Departments of Psychiatry (H.K.) and Neuropathology (S.L., O.D., D.R.T.), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; the Department of Pathology (M.O.), Municipal Hospital Offenbach am Main, Offenbach am Main, Germany; the Department of Biochemistry (G.B.), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; and the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging (W.S.T.G.), UAMS, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, Little Rock, Ark.

Correspondence to Dietmar Rudolf Thal, MD, Institute of Pathology, Laboratory of Neuropathology, University of Ulm, Albert Einstein Allee 11, D-89081 Ulm, Germany. E-mail Didithal{at}aol.com

Abstract

Background and Purpose— Glutathione S-transferase omega-1 is a multifunctional enzyme. The Asp/Asp genotype of the Ala140Asp polymorphism of the GSTO1 gene has been alleged to increase the risk of vascular dementia. The objective of this study is to address the question of whether common vessel disorders known to cause vascular dementia are modified in their severity by this polymorphism.

Methods— The severity and expansion of atherosclerosis in the circle of Willis vessels, cerebral small vessel disease, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy were studied in a sample of 79 autopsy cases. Genotyping of the GSTO1 Ala140Asp polymorphism as well as immunohistochemistry for glutathione S-transferase omega-1 was performed.

Results— Carriers of the GSTO1 Asp/Asp genotype presented with more severe and widespread atherosclerosis than noncarriers. However, there was no effect on small vessel disease expansion and cerebral amyloid angiopathy severity. Immunohistochemically, we detected interleukin-1 expressing macrophages in the lipid core of atherosclerosis plaques exhibiting glutathione S-transferase omega-1-positive material. GSTO1 Asp/Asp carriers showed larger areas of atherosclerosis plaques containing interleukin-1-positive material than carriers of the GSTO1 Ala-allele.

Conclusions— The GSTO1 Asp/Asp genotype presumably modulates the severity and expansion of atherosclerosis in the circle of Willis. The cellular colocalization of glutathione S-transferase omega-1 and interleukin-1 suggests a functional interaction between both proteins which in part might explain the function of glutathione S-transferase omega-1 in the pathogenesis of cerebral atherosclerosis.

Key Words: atherosclerosis • cerebral arteries • GSTO1-1