Effect of polymorphisms of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in combination with a high anthropogenic load on the development of the great obstetrical syndromes

Introduction. Pathological conditions combined under a common term “the great obstetrical syndromes” (preeclampsia, premature birth, fetal egg death or its intrauterine growth retardation) make a significant contribution to infant mortality, affecting the demographic situation in the country. The rate of these pathologies increases in the regions with a high anthropogenic load.The aim of the study is to identify the relationship between the forms of phase II genes of the xenobiotic biotransformation system (GSTM1, GSTT1) and major obstetric syndromes in women who are pregnant in an industrial city with a critically high level of air pollution.Materials and methods. A survey of two hundred twenty two pregnant women with the pathological conditions of the great obstetrical syndromes living in the industrial center of Novokuznetsk was conducted. Of these, 39 patient developed preeclampsia, 16 subjects with intrauterine fetal growth retardation, 38 women gave birth to premature babies, 49 cases had fetal egg death at the early stages of development. 80 women with a standard pregnancy were also examined. Variants of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 phase II genes of the xenobiotic biotransformation system were determined in all the examined patients by polymerase chain reaction.Results. Deletion polymorphisms of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes have been shown to be reliably associated with the great obstetrical syndromes: intrauterine growth retardation GSTM1 (χ2 – 6.23; OR – 5.23), preeclampsia GSTT1 (χ2 – 4.36; OR – 4.91), a missed miscarriage GSTM1 (χ2 – 8.21; OR – 3.67) and GSTT1 (χ2 – 11.70; OR – 16.86). No connection was found between normal polymorphisms of these genes and the pathologies studied.Limitation. The study was of a pilot nature, so it is advisable to increase the sample.Conclusion. The identified genotypes can be considered as markers of reproductive disorders and used in assessing the risk of the great obstetrical syndromes during pregnancy planning and clinical support for women living in industrial regions with critically high levels of atmospheric pollution to reduce reproductive losses.Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases (Protocol of the Meeting No. 4, § 1 dated 18.11.2021) conducted in accordance with the generally accepted scientific principles of the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association “Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects” as amended 2013. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.Contribution: Gulyaeva O.N. – the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, writing the text; Kazitskaya A.S., Ulanova E.V., Yadykina T.K., Tereshkin I.E. – material processing; Zhukova A.G. – editing; Zoteeva A.I., Matoshin S.V. – collection of material; Shramko S.V., Renge L.V. – the study concept, editing. All authors – approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Funding. The study had no sponsorship.Received: April 21, 2025 / Revised: May 28, 2025 / Accepted: June 26, 2025 / Published: August 20, 2025

xenobiotic biotransformation system, intrauterine growth retardation, preeclampsia, missed miscarriage, polymorphism of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes, industrial region