THORAX
[Glutathione S transferase deficiency and passive smoking increase childhood asthma Thorax 2004; 59: 569-73]
Newswise — A defect in genes responsible for triggering detoxification may boost the risk of developing childhood asthma from passive smoking, reveals research in Thorax.
The findings are based on over 3,000 German schoolchildren in two cities, who were assessed for defects in glutathione S transferase (GST). GST is an enzyme involved in detoxifying the effects of second-hand tobacco smoke on the airways.
The children's parents were asked about their own smoking habits and their children's respiratory health. The children were also tested for allergies.
Among children with one genetic defect, known as an absence of the GSTM1 allele, those whose parents were active smokers were more likely to have respiratory problems than children whose parents did not smoke.
They were five times as likely to have asthma, almost five times as likely to wheeze, and nine times as likely to have shortness of breath. And they were almost three times as likely to have had a wheezing problem at some time in their lives.
Similarly, among children with another genetic defect associated with glutathione S transferase (absence of GSTT1 allele), those whose mothers had smoked during pregnancy, had significantly worse lung function than children whose mothers had not.
The authors conclude that children with these genetic defects run a higher risk of developing asthma and associated symptoms, which could be prompted by both exposure to second hand tobacco smoke in the womb and in early childhood.
Click here to view full paper:http://press.psprings.co.uk/thx/july/569_tx16667.pdf
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