CYTOPATHOLOGY OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD ERYTHROCYTES AND POLYMORPHISM OF GLUTATIONE-S-TRANSFERASE GENES IN WORKERS OF MERCURY PRODUCING AND RECYCLING INDUSTRY

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between glutathione-S-transferase (GST) genes polymorphism and the frequency of cytopathology of peripheral blood erythrocytes in the workers occupationally exposed to mercury as well as in the occupationally non-exposed local population of the Aktash settlement of the Republic Altai (control group). It was found that the workers of the mercury producing and recycling enterprise with deletion (null)-variant GSTM1 genes showed significantly higher levels of anisocytosis in the peripheral blood than both the GSTM1 positive individuals and the control group (P<0,01). In addition, the null variants of both GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in workers were significantly associated with the elevated frequency of poikilocytosis, particularly macrocytosis, and micronucleated erythrocytes in the peripheral blood as compared to the controls and the active genotype GSTM1(+) / GSTT1(+) (P<0,01). Moreover, the increased level of microcytosis was detected exclusively in workers with the combination of null variants of GSTT1(o) and GSTM1(o) genes. Analysis of the data of the control group as well as the workers exposed to mercury, demonstrated that in the individuals with the combination of null variants of GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes, the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes was significantly higher than in the ones with active genotypes of GSTM1(+) / GSTT1(+).