Abstract
Purpose: :
The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2664538 within the MMP-9 gene was identified in a recent study with risk for acute primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) (Wang et al, Mol Vis 2006). The activity of MMP-9 was postulated to be down-regulated in acute PACG, with the short axial length in this condition due to an alteration in the activity of MMP-9 in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling during ocular development. The aim of this study was to confirm this association in Singaporean Chinese subjects with both acute and chronic PACG.
Methods: :
This was a case-control study. Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes of peripheral blood and genotyping for the rs2664538 SNP was performed by polymerase chain reaction followed by bi-directional sequencing using BigDye Terminator v3.1 chemistries and analyzed on an ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyzer. The association of the SNP with PACG was evaluated using chi-squared tests.
Results: :
A total of 217 subjects with PACG (consisting of 85 acute and 132 chronic PACG), and 83 normal control Chinese subjects were studied. There was no significant difference in the rs2664538 SNP allele frequencies for acute or chronic PACG subjects compared with controls [GG 57.6%, GA 35.3%, AA 7.1% in acute PACG subjects (p=0.82); GG 65.2%, GA 29.5% and AA 5.3% in chronic PACG subjects (p=0.49) and GG 57.8%, GA 37.3% and AA 4.8% in controls]. The rs2664538 SNP genotypes were in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium within all three groups of individuals.
Conclusions: :
This study did not find an association between the rs2664538 polymorphism within the MMP-9 gene and PACG in this sample of Chinese subjects.
Keywords: genetics • gene screening • outflow: trabecular meshwork