The etiology of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) has not been fully clarified yet. Vitamin D receptor’s gene (VDR) has been suggested as one of the potential entities involved in disc pathologies onset. On the other hand, this study correlates, for the first time, glutathione transferases M1 and T1 genes (GSTT1 and GSTM1) participation, which are responsible for cigarette components’ inactivation, in IDD. DNA was extracted from leukocytes of 66 patients and 88 controls, paired by gender and age. The VDR-Fokl polymorphism was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction with Fokl enzyme. GSTT1/M1 polymorphisms were determined by means of PCR multiplex. Family history and disease severity were highlighted in patients carrying the f allele of the VDR-Fokl gene (P=0.000 and 0.0012, respectively). The age at disease onset has shown to be early in individuals with _/f genotype (average 26 years old). A correlation was found between Fokl polymorphism and early degeneration and IDD severity, with smoking habit also interfering in this process, regardless of the presence or absence of a favorable genotype for GSTT1/M1.
Risk factors; Polymorphism; genetic; Intervertebral disc
