Importance of Genetic Polymorphisms in MT1 and MT2 Genes in Metals Homeostasis and Their Relationship with the Risk of Acute Pancreatitis Occurrence in Smokers—Preliminary Findings

This study was aimed at evaluating the changes in metallothionein (MT) concentration in the blood of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and healthy subjects, taking into account the extracellular (plasma) and intracellular (erythrocyte lysate) compartments. The impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MT1A (rs11640851), MT1B (rs964372) and MT2A (rs10636) genes on MT concentration and their association with the concentration of metals (Cu, Zn, Cd) and ceruloplasmin as Cu-related proteins were analyzed. The concentration of a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and IL-6 as markers of inflammation, and malonyldialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SODs) activity and the value of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as parameters describing the pro/antioxidative balance were also assessed. In the AP patient groups, an increased MT concentration in erythrocyte lysate compared to healthy subjects was shown, especially in individuals with the GG genotype for rs964372 in the MT1B gene. A Zn concentration was especially decreased in the blood of smoking AP patients with the AA genotype for SNP rs11640851 in the MT1A gene and the GC genotype for SNP rs10636 in MT2A, compared to non-smokers with AP, which was accompanied by an increase in the value of the Cu/Zn ratio. The exposure to tobacco smoke xenobiotics increased the risk of AP occurrence in subjects with the CC genotype for SNP rs11640851 in the MT1A gene by more than fourfold. The investigated polymorphisms, rs11640851 in the MT1A gene, rs964372 in the MT1B gene and rs10636 in the MT2A gene, seem to be an important factor in maintaining homeostasis in an organism under oxidative stress conditions.