The GSTM1null (deletion) and MGMT84 rs12917 (Phe/Phe) haplotype are associated with bulky DNA adduct levels in human leukocytes

• Bulky DNA adduct levels were not different among low-level smokers and non-smokers.
• GSTM1null volunteers had marginally significant lower adduct levels than GSTM1 ones.
• MGMT Leu84Phe heterozygotes had a higher level of adducts than homozygous wild type.
• GSTM1null-MGMT rs12917 haplotype was associated to adduct levels in smokers.

Tobacco smoke and air pollutants contain carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNA), that are substrates of metabolizing enzymes generating reactive metabolites that can bind to DNA. Variation in the activity of these enzymes may modify the extent to which these metabolites can interact with DNA. We compared the levels of bulky DNA adducts in blood leukocytes from 93 volunteers living in Mexico City with the presence of 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes related to PAH and TSNA metabolism (AhR rs2044853, CYP1A1 rs1048943, CYP1A1 rs1048943, CYP1A1 rs1799814, EPHX1 rs1051740, EPHX1 rs2234922, GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null and GSTP1 rs947894), DNA repair (XRCC1 rs25487, ERCC2 rs13181 and MGMT rs12917) and cell cycle (TP53 rs1042522). 32P-postlabeling analysis was used to quantify bulky DNA adduct formation. Genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP. The mean levels of bulky DNA adducts were 8.51 ± 3.66 adducts/108 nucleotides (nt) in smokers and 8.38 ± 3.59 adducts/108 nt in non-smokers, being the difference not statistically significant. Without taking into account the smoking status, GSTM1null individuals had a marginally significant lower adduct levels compared with GSTM1 volunteers (p = 0.0433) and individuals heterozygous for MGMT Leu/Phe had a higher level of bulky adducts than those who were homozygous wild type (p = 0.0170). A multiple regression analysis model showed a significant association between the GSTM1 (deletion) and MGMT rs12917 (Phe/Phe) haplotype and the formation of DNA adducts in smokers (R2 = 0.2401, p = 0.0215). The presence of these variants conferred a greater risk for higher adduct levels in this Mexican population.