Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 2020, 8, 41-54 https://www.scirp.org/journal/jbm ISSN Online: 2327-509X ISSN Print: 2327-5081 DOI: 10.4236/jbm.2020.82004 Feb. 4, 2020 41 Journal of Biosciences and Medicines Role of Glutathione S-Transferase (GSTM1 and GSTT1) Genes Deletion in Susceptibility to HIV-1 Disease Progression Florencia Wendkuuni Djigma 1,2*# , Pegdwendé Abel Sorgho 1,2# , Serge Théophile Soubeiga 1,2,3 , Albert Théophane Yonli 1,2 , Herman Karim Sombie 1,2 , Isabelle Touwendpoulimdé Kiendrebeogo 1,2 , Tégwindé Rebeca Compaore 1,2,3 , Abdoul Karim Ouattara 1,2 , Bapio Valérie Jéan Télesphore Elvira Bazie 1,2 , Bolni Marius Nagalo 1,2,4 , Jacques Simpore 1,2 1 Molecular Biology and Genetics Laboratory (LABIOGENE), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University JOSEPH KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 2 Pietro Annigoni Biomolecular Research Center (CERBA), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 3 Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante (IRSS), Biomedical and Public health Department, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 4 Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA Abstract Background: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional enzymes which play an important role in oxidative stress pathways by conjugation with glutathione. Oxidative stress is one of several risk factors that may be associated with many types of diseases progression such as cancer and infectious diseases. In this study, we investigated the association between the polymorphism of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes and the risk of HIV-1 disease progression. Me- thods: We conducted a case-control study including 313 participants of Bur- kina Faso: 153 HIV-1 infected individuals on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 160 HIV-1 negative individuals as controls. Presence or absence of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes was determined using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). CD4 + T counts and HIV-1 viral load were measured in patients using respectively BD FACSCount and Abbott m2000rt instruments. Results: Frequencies of GSTM1-null and GSTT1-null were 30.35% and 35.46% respec- tively and the frequency of double deletion GSTM1-null/GSTT1-null was 14.38% in the general study population. GSTM1-null (30.35% versus 69.65%; OR = 1.90; p = 0.010), GSTT1-null (35.46% versus 64.54%; OR = 3.11; p < 0.001), GSTM1-active/GSTT1-null (21.08% versus 48.56%; OR = 3.17; p < 0.001) and the double deletion GSTM1-null/GSTT1-null (14.38% versus 48.56%; OR = 4.46; p < 0.001) were more present in cases group than controls and differences # These authors contributed equally to this article. How to cite this paper: Djigma, F.W., Sorgho, P.A., Soubeiga, S.T., Yonli, A.T., Sombie, H.K., Kiendrebeogo, I.T., Compaore, T.R., Ouattara, A.K., Bazie, B.V.J.T.E., Nagalo, B.M. and Simpore, J. (2020) Role of Gluta- thione S-Transferase (GSTM1 and GSTT1) Genes Deletion in Susceptibility to HIV-1 Disease Progression. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 8, 41-54. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2020.82004 Received: December 30, 2019 Accepted: February 1, 2020 Published: February 4, 2020 Copyright © 2020 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access