CYP1AI and CYP2E1 gene polymorphisms may increase susceptibility to oral submucous fibrosis among betel quid chewers of eastern India.

Chewing betel quid may release chemical carcinogens including xenobiotics resulting in oral malignancy cases preceded by potential malignant lesions and conditions - Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) being one of them. The cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) enzyme is central to the metabolic activation of these xenobiotics, whereas CYP2E1 metabolizes the nitrosamines and tannins. The present study investigated the association of polymorphisms at CYP1A1m1 (T3801C), m2 (A2455G), and CYP2E1 PstI site (nucleotide 21259) with the risk of OSF. The study was conducted on 75 OSF patients and 150 controls from an eastern Indian population. The above polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-RFLP method. Analyses of data show that polymorphisms in CYP1A1m2 [OR=8.25 (4.31-15.80)]; CYP1A1m1 [OR=2.88 (1.57-5.24)] and CYP2E1 PstI site [OR=3.16 (1.10-9.04)] revealed significant association with OSF. Our results suggest that polymorphism in CYP1A1 and CYP2E1 may confer an increased risk for Oral Submucous Fibrosis.