Influence of MRP1 G1666A and GSTP1 Ile105Val genetic variants on the urinary and blood arsenic levels of Turkish smelter workers

• Individuals with MRP1A−/GSTP1Val− had significantly higher urinary arsenic levels.
• Individuals with the MRP1A−/GSTP1Val− had lower blood arsenic levels.
• Individuals with MRP1A−/GSTP1Val− might be advantageous for being protected from arsenic toxicity.
• Genetic variants in MRP1 G1666A seemed to affect individual susceptibility to arsenic toxicity.

To understand the cellular mechanisms responsible for arsenic metabolism and transport pathways plays a fundamental role in order to prevent the arsenic-induced toxicity. The effect of MRP1 G1666A and GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphisms on blood and urinary arsenic levels were determined in 95 Turkish smelter workers. Blood and urinary arsenic concentrations were measured by GF-AAS with Zeeman correction and gene polymorphisms were investigated by PCR-RFLP method. The mean blood and urinary arsenic levels were 21.60 ± 12.28 μg/L and 5.58 ± 4.37 μg/L, respectively. A significant association between MRP1 1666A allele and urinary arsenic levels was found (p = 0.001). GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism was detected not to be associated with either blood or urinary arsenic levels (p = 0.384, p = 0.440, respectively). Significant association was also detected between MRP1A-/GSTP1Val− genotypes and urinary arsenic levels (p = 0.001). This study suggested that MRP1 G1666A alone and, also, combined with GSTP1 Ile105Val were associated with inter-individual variations in urinary arsenic levels, but not with blood arsenic levels.