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

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-1α expressing macrophag...