Association of genetic variants rs641153 (CFB), rs2230199 (C3), and rs1410996 (CFH) with age-related macular degeneration in a Brazilian population.

This study aimed to investigate the association among genetic variants of the complement pathway CFB R32Q (rs641153), C3 R102G (rs2230199), and CFH (rs1410996) with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a sample of the Brazilian population. In a case-control study, 484 AMD patients were classified according to the clinical age-related maculopathy grading system (CARMS) and compared to 479 unrelated controls. The genetic variants rs1410996 of complement H (CFH), rs641153 of complement factor B (CFB), and rs2230199 of complement 3 (C3) were evaluated through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and AMD, adjusted by age, were assessed by using logistic regression models. A statistically significant association was observed between AMD risk and rs2230199 variant with an OR of 2.01 (P = 0.0002) for CG individuals compared to CC individuals. Regarding the comparison of advanced AMD versus the control group, the OR was 2.12 (P = 0.0036) for GG versus AA genotypes for rs1410996 variant. Similarly, the OR for rs2230199 polymorphism was 2.3034 (P = 5.47e-05) when comparing CG individuals to CC carriers. In contrast, the rs641153 variant showed a significant protective effect against advanced AMD for GA versus GG genotype (OR = 0.4406; P = 0.0019). When comparing wet AMD versus controls, a significant association was detected for rs1410996 variant (OR = 2.16; P = 0.0039) comparing carriers of the homozygous GG versus AA genotype, as well as in the comparisons of GG (OR = 3.0713; P = 0.0046) and CG genotypes (OR = 2.2249; P = 0.0002) versus CC genotype for rs2230199 variant, respectively. The rs641153 variant granted a significant protective effect against wet AMD for GA versus GG genotypes (OR = 0.4601; P = 0.0044). Our study confirmed the risk association between rs2230199 and rs1410996 variants and AMD, and the protective role against AMD for rs641153 variant.

Evaluation of APOE polymorphisms and the risk for age-related macular degeneration in a Southeastern Brazilian population.

This study aimed to evaluate the role of APOE polymorphisms (rs429358 and rs7412) in the risk of age-related macular degeneration in a sample of the Southeastern Brazilian population. Seven hundred and five unrelated individuals were analyzed, 334 with age-related macular degeneration (case group), and 371 without the disease (control group). In the case group, patients were further stratified according to disease phenotypes, divided into dry and wet age-related macular degeneration, and non-advanced and advanced age-related macular degeneration. APOE polymorphisms (rs429358 and rs7412) were evaluated through polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. In the comparison of cases vs. controls, none of the associations reached statistical significance, considering the Bonferroni-adjusted P-value, although there was a suggestive protection for the E3/E4 genotype (OR = 0.626; P-value = 0.037) and E4 carriers (OR = 0.6515; P-value = 0.047). Statistically significant protection for both the E3/E4 genotype and E4 carriers was observed in the comparisons: advanced age-related macular degeneration vs. controls (OR = 0.3665, P-value = 0.491 × 10-3 and OR = 0.4031, P-value = 0.814 × 10-3, respectively), advanced age-related macular degeneration vs. non-advanced age-related macular degeneration (OR = 0.2529, P-value = 0.659 × 10-4 and OR = 0.2692, P-value = 0.631 × 10-4, respectively). In the comparison of wet age-related macular degeneration vs. control, protection was statistically significant only for E3/E4 (OR = 0.4052, P-value = 0.001). None of the comparisons demonstrated any significant association for E2 genotypes or E2 carriers in age-related macular degeneration risk in this study. Findings suggest a protective role of the E4 haplotype in the APOE gene in the risk for advanced and wet forms of age-related macular degeneration, in a sample of the Brazilian population. To our knowledge, this is the first Brazilian study to show the association between APOE polymorphisms and age-related macular degeneration.