Assessing the Association of Mitochondrial Genetic Variation With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Using Gene-Set Analyses

Purpose

Recent studies indicate that mitochondrial proteins may contribute to the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). In this study, we examined the association between POAG and common variations in gene-encoding mitochondrial proteins.

Methods

We examined genetic data from 3430 POAG cases and 3108 controls derived from the combination of the GLAUGEN and NEIGHBOR studies. We constructed biological-system coherent mitochondrial nuclear-encoded protein gene-sets by intersecting the MitoCarta database with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. We examined the mitochondrial gene-sets for association with POAG and with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and high-tension glaucoma (HTG) subsets using Pathway Analysis by Randomization Incorporating Structure.

Results

We identified 22 KEGG pathways with significant mitochondrial protein-encoding gene enrichment, belonging to six general biological classes. Among the pathway classes, mitochondrial lipid metabolism was associated with POAG overall (P = 0.013) and with NTG (P = 0.0006), and mitochondrial carbohydrate metabolism was associated with NTG (P = 0.030). Examining the individual KEGG pathway mitochondrial gene-sets, fatty acid elongation and synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, both lipid metabolism pathways, were significantly associated with POAG (P = 0.005 and P = 0.002, respectively) and NTG (P = 0.0004 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Butanoate metabolism, a carbohydrate metabolism pathway, was significantly associated with POAG (P = 0.004), NTG (P = 0.001), and HTG (P = 0.010).

Conclusions

We present an effective approach for assessing the contributions of mitochondrial genetic variation to open-angle glaucoma. Our findings support a role for mitochondria in POAG pathogenesis and specifically point to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism pathways as being important.

Addressing ethical challenges in the Genetics Substudy of the National Eye Survey of Trinidad and Tobago (GSNESTT)

BACKGROUND

The conduct of international collaborative genomics research raises distinct ethical challenges that require special consideration, especially if conducted in settings that are research-naïve or resource-limited. Although there is considerable literature on these issues, there is a dearth of literature chronicling approaches taken to address these issues in the field. Additionally no previous ethical guidelines have been developed to support similar research in Trinidad and Tobago.

METHODS

A literature review was undertaken to identify strategies used to address common ethical issues relevant to human genetics and genomics research in research-naïve or resource-limited settings. Strategies identified were combined with novel approaches to develop a culturally appropriate, multifaceted strategy to address potential challenges in the Genetics Substudy of the National Eye Survey of Trinidad and Tobago (GSNESTT).

RESULTS

Regarding the protection of study participants, we report a decision to exclude children as participants; the use of a Community Engagement and Sensitization Strategy to increase the genetic literacy of the target population; the involvement of local expertise to ensure cultural sensitivity and to address potential comprehension barriers in informed consent; and an audit of the informed consent process to ensure valid consent. Concerning the regulation of the research, we report on ethics approvals from relevant authorities; a Materials Transfer Agreement to guide sample ownership and export; and a Sample Governance Committee to oversee data use and data access. Finally regarding the protection of the interests of scientists from the host country, we report on capacity building efforts to ensure that local scientists have access to data collected through the project and appropriate recognition of their contributions in future publications.

CONCLUSION

This paper outlines an ethical framework for the conduct of population-based genetics and genomics research in Trinidad and Tobago; highlights common issues arising in the field and strategies to address these.

The Relationship of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome to Ocular Hypertension and Glaucoma

PURPOSE

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease with associated ophthalmic pathology. Glaucoma has been reported in patients with VKH. The purpose of this report is to examine the frequency and types of glaucoma associated with VKH.

METHODS

This was a retrospective case series. Electronic medical records of patients with VKH were reviewed from two medical centers: Duke University and the University of North Carolina.

RESULTS

Of 45 eyes with VKH, 28 (62%) developed ocular hypertension (OHT) or glaucoma. In the patients with VKH and OHT/glaucoma, 18/28 (64%) had posterior synechiae and/or peripheral anterior synechiae.

CONCLUSIONS

We have shown a high prevalence of OHT and glaucoma in eyes with VKH. Furthermore, in addition to secondary open angle from corticosteroid treatment and uveitis, secondary angle closure resulting from posterior synechiae, frequently associated with iris bombé configuration, is an important cause of glaucoma in VKH eyes.

System for Rapid, Precise Modulation of Intraocular Pressure, toward Minimally-Invasive In Vivo Measurement of Intracranial Pressure

Pathologic changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) are commonly observed in a variety of medical conditions, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumors, and glaucoma. However, current ICP measurement techniques are invasive, requiring a lumbar puncture or surgical insertion of a cannula into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled ventricles of the brain. A potential alternative approach to ICP measurement leverages the unique anatomy of the central retinal vein, which is exposed to both intraocular pressure (IOP) and ICP as it travels inside the eye and through the optic nerve; manipulating IOP while observing changes in the natural pulsations of the central retinal vein could potentially provide an accurate, indirect measure of ICP. As a step toward implementing this technique, we describe the design, fabrication, and characterization of a system that is capable of manipulating IOP in vivo with <0.1 mmHg resolution and settling times less than 2 seconds. In vitro tests were carried out to characterize system performance. Then, as a proof of concept, we used the system to manipulate IOP in tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) while video of the retinal vessels was recorded and the caliber of a selected vein was quantified. Modulating IOP using our system elicited a rapid change in the appearance of the retinal vein of interest: IOP was lowered from 10 to 3 mmHg, and retinal vein caliber sharply increased as IOP decreased from 7 to 5 mmHg. Another important feature of this technology is its capability to measure ocular compliance and outflow facility in vivo, as demonstrated in tree shrews. Collectively, these proof-of-concept demonstrations support the utility of this system to manipulate IOP for a variety of useful applications in ocular biomechanics, and provide a framework for further study of the mechanisms of retinal venous pulsation.

Genome-wide association analysis identifies TXNRD2, ATXN2 and FOXC1 as susceptibility loci for primary open-angle glaucoma

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of blindness world-wide. To identify new susceptibility loci, we meta-analyzed GWAS results from 8 independent studies from the United States (3,853 cases and 33,480 controls) and investigated the most significant SNPs in two Australian studies (1,252 cases and 2,592 controls), 3 European studies (875 cases and 4,107 controls) and a Singaporean Chinese study (1,037 cases and 2,543 controls). A meta-analysis of top SNPs identified three novel loci: rs35934224[T] within TXNRD2 (odds ratio (OR) = 0.78, P = 4.05×10⁻¹¹ encoding a mitochondrial protein required for redox homeostasis; rs7137828[T] within ATXN2 (OR = 1.17, P = 8.73×10⁻¹⁰), and rs2745572[A] upstream of FOXC1 (OR = 1.17, P = 1.76×10⁻¹⁰). Using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, we show TXNRD2 and ATXN2 expression in retinal ganglion cells and the optic nerve head. These results identify new pathways underlying POAG susceptibility and suggest novel targets for preventative therapies.

Genetic variants and cellular stressors associated with exfoliation syndrome modulate promoter activity of a lncRNA within the LOXL1 locus

Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is a common, age-related, systemic fibrillinopathy. It greatly increases risk of exfoliation glaucoma (XFG), a major worldwide cause of irreversible blindness. Coding variants in the lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) gene are strongly associated with XFS in all studied populations, but a functional role for these variants has not been established. To identify additional candidate functional variants, we sequenced the entire LOXL1 genomic locus (∼40 kb) in 50 indigenous, black South African XFS cases and 50 matched controls. The variants with the strongest evidence of association were located in a well-defined 7-kb region bounded by the 3'-end of exon 1 and the adjacent region of intron 1 of LOXL1. We replicated this finding in US Caucasian (91 cases/1031 controls), German (771 cases/1365 controls) and Japanese (1484 cases/1188 controls) populations. The region of peak association lies upstream of LOXL1-AS1, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) encoded on the opposite strand of LOXL1. We show that this region contains a promoter and, importantly, that the strongly associated XFS risk alleles in the South African population are functional variants that significantly modulate the activity of this promoter. LOXL1-AS1 expression is also significantly altered in response to oxidative stress in human lens epithelial cells and in response to cyclic mechanical stress in human Schlemm's canal endothelial cells. Taken together, these findings support a functional role for the LOXL1-AS1 lncRNA in cellular stress response and suggest that dysregulation of its expression by genetic risk variants plays a key role in XFS pathogenesis.

Eye Care Professionals' Perspectives on Eye Donation and an Eye Donation Registry for Research: A Single-Institution, Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

A centralized eye donation registry for research could help to bridge the gap between patients interested in donating their eyes to science and scientists who conduct research on human eye tissue. Previous research has demonstrated patient and family support for such a registry. In this study, we assessed the views that eye care professionals have toward an eye donation registry for research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Surveys were distributed to all 46 clinical faculty members of the Duke University Eye Center. In addition to collecting demographic information, the surveys assessed clinicians' experience with discussing eye donation with patients, described the proposed eye donation registry for research and asked how the registry would affect the clinicians' practice.

RESULTS

A total of 21 eye care professionals returned the survey. Thirty-three percent reported discussing eye donation with patients, and 43% reported that a patient has asked about donating their eyes for research on their disease. Eighty-six percent of eye care professionals reported that a centralized registry would improve the way they work with patients who express a desire to donate their eyes for research.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of eye care professionals at our academic institution indicated that an eye donation registry for research would improve how they work with patients who are interested in donating their eyes for research on their disease. Future research should examine how best to communicate this registry to ophthalmic patients.

Case-control association between CCT-associated variants and keratoconus in a Saudi Arabian population

BACKGROUND

Keratoconus (KC) is the most common primary ectatic disease of the cornea and a major indication for corneal transplant. To date, limited KC-associated-risk loci have been identified. Association has recently been suggested between KC and 8 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genomic regions of FNDC3B, COL4A3, MPDZ-NF1B, RXRA-COL5A1, LCN12-PTGDS, FOXO1, and BANP-ZNF469. These SNPs are associated with central corneal thickness (CCT), a known risk factor to KC. We are questioning whether these SNPs are significantly associated with KC in a Saudi Arabian population. The study included 108 unrelated KC cases and 300 controls. Patients were diagnosed with KC according to the Schimpff-flow based elevation map of the cornea. DNA genotyping was done using probe-based allelic discrimination TaqMan assays. Allele frequencies were compared between the cases and controls.

RESULTS

All SNPs were successfully genotyped with high efficiency (>95 %). The SNPs had no significant deviation in cases or controls from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE, p value > 0.05). None of the selected SNPs were significantly associated with KC in the Saudi Arabian population. However, we replicated the same trend of minor allele frequency (MAF) between cases and controls reported by a recent GWAS regarding the 5 SNPs rs4894535 (FNDC3B, chr3: 171995605), rs1536482 (RXRA-COL5A1, chr9: 137440528), rs7044529 (COL5A1, chr9: 137568051), rs11145951 (LCN12-PTGDS, chr9: 139860264), and rs2721051 (FOXO1, chr13: 41110884).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study investigating the association of these SNPs with KC in a population from Saudi Arabia. We replicated the same trend of MAF alteration of the association between the SNPs rs4894535 (FNDC3B, chr3: 171995605), rs7044529 (COL5A1, chr9: 137568051), rs11145951 (LCN12-PTGDS, chr9: 139860264) and rs2721051 (FOXO1, chr13: 41110884) and KC-risk as reported by a recently published GWAS. Consistently replicated population-based studies are necessary to identify and/or confirm genetic susceptibility for certain diseases. We acknowledge that the lack of significance in our study is due to our small sample size and insufficient statistical power; however our data still add to the body of evidence of potential KC-candidate SNPs. This report aims at supporting the possible association between CCT-associated SNPs and KC susceptibility.

A common variant near TGFBR3 is associated with primary open angle glaucoma

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), a major cause of blindness worldwide, is a complex disease with a significant genetic contribution. We performed Exome Array (Illumina) analysis on 3504 POAG cases and 9746 controls with replication of the most significant findings in 9173 POAG cases and 26 780 controls across 18 collections of Asian, African and European descent. Apart from confirming strong evidence of association at CDKN2B-AS1 (rs2157719 [G], odds ratio [OR] = 0.71, P = 2.81 × 10⁻³³), we observed one SNP showing significant association to POAG (CDC7–TGFBR3 rs1192415, OR_G-allele = 1.13, P_meta = 1.60 × 10⁻⁸). This particular SNP has previously been shown to be strongly associated with optic disc area and vertical cup-to-disc ratio, which are regarded as glaucoma-related quantitative traits. Our study now extends this by directly implicating it in POAG disease pathogenesis.

A common variant mapping to CACNA1A is associated with susceptibility to exfoliation syndrome

Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is the most common recognizable cause of open-angle glaucoma worldwide. To better understand the etiology of XFS, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 1,484 cases and 1,188 controls from Japan and followed up the most significant findings in a further 6,901 cases and 20,727 controls from 17 countries across 6 continents. We discovered a genome-wide significant association between a new locus (CACNA1A rs4926244) and increased susceptibility to XFS (odds ratio (OR) = 1.16, P = 3.36 × 10(-11)). Although we also confirmed overwhelming association at the LOXL1 locus, the key SNP marker (LOXL1 rs4886776) demonstrated allelic reversal depending on the ancestry group (Japanese: OR(A allele) = 9.87, P = 2.13 × 10(-217); non-Japanese: OR(A allele) = 0.49, P = 2.35 × 10(-31)). Our findings represent the first genetic locus outside of LOXL1 surpassing genome-wide significance for XFS and provide insight into the biology and pathogenesis of the disease.

The genetics of POAG in black South Africans: a candidate gene association study

Multiple loci have been associated with either primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or heritable ocular quantitative traits associated with this condition. This study examined the association of these loci with POAG, with central corneal thickness (CCT), vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR) and with diabetes mellitus in a group of black South Africans (215 POAG cases and 214 controls). The population was homogeneous and distinct from other African and European populations. Single SNPs in the MYOC, COL8A2, COL1A1 and ZNF469 gene regions showed marginal associations with POAG. No association with POAG was identified with tagging SNPs in TMCO1, CAV1/CAV2, CYP1B1, COL1A2, COL5A1, CDKN2B/CDKN2BAS-1, SIX1/SIX6 or the chromosome 2p16 regions and there were no associations with CCT or VCDR. However, SNP rs12522383 in WDR36 was associated with diabetes mellitus (p = 0.00008). This first POAG genetic association study in black South Africans has therefore identified associations that require additional investigation in this and other populations to determine their significance. This highlights the need for larger studies in this population if we are to achieve the goal of facilitating early POAG detection and ultimately preventing irreversible blindness from this condition.

Association of common SIX6 polymorphisms with peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness: the Singapore Chinese Eye Study

PURPOSE

Recently the common SIX6 missense variant rs33912345 was found to be highly associated with glaucoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between this SIX6 variant and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in a population setting.

METHODS

Study subjects were enrolled from the Singapore Chinese Eye Study (SCES), a population-based survey of Singaporean Chinese aged 40 years or older. Subjects underwent a comprehensive ocular examination. Spectral-domain OCT was used to measure RNFL thicknesses. Genotyping of SIX6 rs33912345 (Asn141His) was performed using HumanExome BeadChip.

RESULTS

A total of 2129 eyes from 1243 SCES subjects (mean age: 55.0 ± 7.4 years) with rs33912345 genotype data and SD-OCT images were included for the analysis. Of these, 26 eyes of 21 subjects had glaucoma. The frequency of rs33912345 risk variant C (His141) was 80% in the study subjects. Each rs33912345 C allele was associated with a decrease of 1.44 μm in RNFL thickness after adjusting for age, sex, genetic principal components, and axial length (P = 0.001). These associations remained similar in 2096 nonglaucoma eyes in which each C allele was associated with a decrease of 1.39 μm in RNFL thickness (P = 0.001). The strongest association was observed in the superior RNFL sector (a decrease of 2.83 μm per risk allele, P < 0.001) followed by the inferior RNFL sector (a decrease of 2.24 μm per risk allele, P = 0.003), while the association did not reach significance in the nasal and temporal sectors.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonglaucomatous individuals with the SIX6 missense variant have reduced RNFL thickness in regions known to be particularly affected in those with glaucoma. This may be the primary mechanism for increased risk of POAG in individuals who carry the SIX6 His141 risk variant.

DNA copy number variants of known glaucoma genes in relation to primary open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE

We examined the role of DNA copy number variants (CNVs) of known glaucoma genes in relation to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

METHODS

Our study included DNA samples from two studies (NEIGHBOR and GLAUGEN). All the samples were genotyped with the Illumina Human660W_Quad_v1 BeadChip. After removing non-blood-derived and amplified DNA samples, we applied quality control steps based on the mean Log R Ratio and the mean B allele frequency. Subsequently, data from 3057 DNA samples (1599 cases and 1458 controls) were analyzed with PennCNV software. We defined CNVs as those ≥5 kilobases (kb) in size and interrogated by ≥5 consecutive probes. We further limited our investigation to CNVs in known POAG-related genes, including CDKN2B-AS1, TMCO1, SIX1/SIX6, CAV1/CAV2, the LRP12-ZFPM2 region, GAS7, ATOH7, FNDC3B, CYP1B1, MYOC, OPTN, WDR36, SRBD1, TBK1, and GALC.

RESULTS

Genomic duplications of CDKN2B-AS1 and TMCO1 were each found in a single case. Two cases carried duplications in the GAS7 region. Genomic deletions of SIX6 and ATOH7 were each identified in one case. One case carried a TBK1 deletion and another case carried a TBK1 duplication. No controls had duplications or deletions in these six genes. A single control had a duplication in the MYOC region. Deletions of GALC were observed in five cases and two controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The CNV analysis of a large set of cases and controls revealed the presence of rare CNVs in known POAG susceptibility genes. Our data suggest that these rare CNVs may contribute to POAG pathogenesis and merit functional evaluation.

Hypothesis-independent pathway analysis implicates GABA and acetyl-CoA metabolism in primary open-angle glaucoma and normal-pressure glaucoma

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Using genome-wide association single-nucleotide polymorphism data from the Glaucoma Genes and Environment study and National Eye Institute Glaucoma Human Genetics Collaboration comprising 3,108 cases and 3,430 controls, we assessed biologic pathways as annotated in the KEGG database for association with risk of POAG. After correction for genic overlap among pathways, we found 4 pathways, butanoate metabolism (hsa00650), hematopoietic cell lineage (hsa04640), lysine degradation (hsa00310) and basal transcription factors (hsa03022) related to POAG with permuted p < 0.001. In addition, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene family was significantly associated with POAG (p < 0.001). In the POAG subset with normal-pressure glaucoma (NPG), the butanoate metabolism pathway was also significantly associated (p < 0.001) as well as the MAPK and Hedgehog signaling pathways (hsa04010 and hsa04340), glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis-heparan sulfate pathway (hsa00534) and the phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis pathway (hsa0400). The butanoate metabolism pathway overall, and specifically the aspects of the pathway that contribute to GABA and acetyl-CoA metabolism, was the only pathway significantly associated with both POAG and NPG. Collectively these results implicate GABA and acetyl-CoA metabolism in glaucoma pathogenesis, and suggest new potential therapeutic targets.

African-American TOMM40'523-APOE haplotypes are admixture of West African and Caucasian alleles

BACKGROUND

Several studies have demonstrated a lower apolipoprotein E4 (APOE ε4) allele frequency in African-Americans, but yet an increased age-related prevalence of AD. An algorithm for prevention clinical trials incorporating TOMM40'523 (Translocase of Outer Mitochondria Membrane) and APOE depends on accurate TOMM40'523-APOE haplotypes.

METHODS

We have compared the APOE and TOMM40'523 phased haplotype frequencies of a 9.5 kb TOMM40/APOE genomic region in West African, Caucasian, and African-American cohorts.

RESULTS

African-American haplotype frequency scans of poly-T lengths connected in phase with either APOE ε4 or APOE ε3 differ from both West Africans and Caucasians and represent admixture of several distinct West African and Caucasian haplotypes. A new West African TOMM40'523 haplotype, with APOE ε4 connected to a short TOMM40'523 allele, is observed in African-Americans but not Caucasians.

CONCLUSION

These data have therapeutic implications for the age of onset risk algorithm estimates and the design of a prevention trial for African-Americans or other mixed ethnic populations.

Osteogenesis imperfecta and primary open angle glaucoma: genotypic analysis of a new phenotypic association

PURPOSE

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of inherited disorders characterized by bone fragility. Ocular findings include blue sclera, low ocular rigidity, and thin corneal thickness. However, there are no documented cases linking OI and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). In this report, we describe three individuals, one isolated case and two from a multiplex family, with OI type I and POAG.

METHODS

Available family members with OI and POAG had a complete eye examination, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), pachymetry, slit-lamp exam, dilated fundus exam, and visual fields. DNA from blood samples was sequenced and screened for mutations in COL1A1/2 and myocilin (MYOC).

RESULTS

All subjects had OI type I. Findings of POAG included elevated IOP, normal gonioscopy, and glaucomatous optic disc cupping and visual field loss. POAG cosegregated with OI in the multiplex family. The multiplex family had a single nucleotide insertion (c.540_541insC) in COL1A1 resulting in a frameshift mutation and a premature termination codon. The sporadic case had a COL1A1 splice acceptor site mutation (c.2452-2A>T or IVS36-2A>T) predicted to result in a premature termination codon due to intron inclusion or a cryptic splice site. None of the glaucoma cases had mutations or sequence changes in MYOC.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified two novel mutations in COL1A1 in individuals with OI type I and POAG. Thus, some mutations in COL1A1 may be causative for OI and POAG. Alternatively, susceptibility genes may interact with mutations in COL1A1 to cause POAG.

Lack of association between lysyl oxidase-like 1 polymorphisms and primary open angle glaucoma: a meta-analysis

AIM

To study the associations between lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) polymorphisms and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) remain inconsistent. In this study, we have performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association of LOXL1 polymorphisms with POAG risk.

METHODS

Published literature from PubMed and other databases were retrieved. All studies evaluating the association between LOXL1 polymorphisms (rs2165241, rs1048661, rs3825942) and POAG risk were included. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects model.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were identified as eligible articles, with thirteen (2098 cases and 16 473 controls), thirteen (1795 cases and 2916 controls) and sixteen population cohorts (2456 cases and 2846 controls) for the association of rs2165241, rs1048661 and rs3825942 with POAG risk respectively. Overall analyses showed no association between each LOXL1 polymorphism and POAG risk, and the negative associations were remained when the subjects were stratified as Caucasian and Asian. The heterozygote of rs2165241 was associated with reduced POAG risk in hospital-based populations (TC vs CC: OR, 0.79, 95%CI: 0.63-0.99), and rs1048661 was associated with increased POAG risk in hospital-based populations in a dominant model (TT vs CC+CT: OR, 1.23, 95%CI: 1.01-1.50); however, these associations were not found in population-based subjects.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggests that LOXL1 polymorphisms are not associated with POAG risk. Given the limited sample size, the associations of LOXL1 polymorphisms with POAG risk in hospital-based populations await further investigation.

Mitochondrial polymorphism A10398G and Haplogroup I are associated with Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy

PURPOSE

We investigated whether mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants affect the susceptibility of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD).

METHODS

Ten mtDNA variants defining European haplogroups were genotyped in a discovery dataset consisting of 530 cases and 498 controls of European descent from the Duke FECD cohort. Association tests for mtDNA markers and haplogroups were performed using logistic regression models with adjustment of age and sex. Subset analyses included controlling for additional effects of either the TCF4 SNP rs613872 or cigarette smoking. Our replication dataset was derived from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) of the FECD Genetics Consortium, where genotypes for three of 10 mtDNA markers were available. Replication analyses were performed to compare non-Duke cases to all GWAS controls (GWAS1, N = 3200), and to non-Duke controls (GWAS2, N = 3043).

RESULTS

The variant A10398G was significantly associated with FECD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.53, 0.98]; P = 0.034), and remains significant after adjusting for smoking status (min P = 0.012). This variant was replicated in GWAS1 (P = 0.019) and GWAS2 (P = 0.036). Haplogroup I was significantly associated with FECD (OR = 0.46; 95% CI = [0.22, 0.97]; P = 0.041) and remains significant after adjusting for the effect of smoking (min P = 0.008) or rs613872 (P = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

The 10398G allele and Haplogroup I appear to confer significant protective effects for FECD. The effect of A10398G and Haplogroup I to FECD is likely independent of the known TCF4 variant. More data are needed to decipher the interaction between smoking and mtDNA haplogroups.

Developments in Ocular Genetics: 2013 Annual Review

PURPOSE

To highlight major advancements in ocular genetics from the year 2013.

DESIGN

Literature review.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted on PubMed to identify articles pertaining to genetic influences on human eye diseases. This review focuses on manuscripts published in print or online in the English language between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. A total of 120 papers from 2013 were included in this review.

RESULTS

Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the genetic basis of a broad group of ocular disorders, including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, keratoconus, Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, and refractive error.

CONCLUSIONS

The latest next-generation sequencing technologies have become extremely effective tools for identifying gene mutations associated with ocular disease. These technological advancements have also paved the way for utilization of genetic information in clinical practice, including disease diagnosis, prediction of treatment response and molecular interventions guided by gene-based knowledge.

Spink2 modulates apoptotic susceptibility and is a candidate gene in the Rgcs1 QTL that affects retinal ganglion cell death after optic nerve damage

The Rgcs1 quantitative trait locus, on mouse chromosome 5, influences susceptibility of retinal ganglion cells to acute damage of the optic nerve. Normally resistant mice (DBA/2J) congenic for the susceptible allele from BALB/cByJ mice exhibit susceptibility to ganglion cells, not only in acute optic nerve crush, but also to chronic inherited glaucoma that is characteristic of the DBA/2J strain as they age. SNP mapping of this QTL has narrowed the region of interest to 1 Mb. In this region, a single gene (Spink2) is the most likely candidate for this effect. Spink2 is expressed in retinal ganglion cells and is increased after optic nerve damage. This gene is also polymorphic between resistant and susceptible strains, containing a single conserved amino acid change (threonine to serine) and a 220 bp deletion in intron 1 that may quantitatively alter endogenous expression levels between strains. Overexpression of the different variants of Spink2 in D407 tissue culture cells also increases their susceptibility to the apoptosis-inducing agent staurosporine in a manner consistent with the differential susceptibility between the DBA/2J and BALB/cByJ strains.