Major review: Exfoliation syndrome; advances in disease genetics, molecular biology, and epidemiology

Aqueous humor (AH) is one of the body fluids in the eye, which is known to be related with various ocular diseases, but the complete RNAs characteristic of the AH in patients is not yet known. The aim of this study was, with a microarray analysis, to reveal the disease-related extracellular miRNAs profiles in individual patients AH. 100 μl of AH was collected by anterior chamber paracentesis from 10 glaucoma, 5 cataract, and 5 epiretinal membrane patients. The extracted total RNAs were shorter than 200 nt, and their amount was 5.27 ± 0.41 ng in average. Among 530.5 ± 44.6 miRNA types detected in each sample with a microarray detectable 2019 types of matured miRNAs, 172 miRNAs were detected in all 10 glaucoma or control patients. From the glaucoma group, 11 significantly up-regulated and 18 significantly down-regulated miRNAs (P < 0.05 for both) were found to have areas under the curve better than 0.74 in a receiver operating characteristic analysis. They also formed a cluster composed only of glaucoma patients in a hierarchal cluster analysis. AH had a possibility of becoming a source of miRNA that can serve as a biomarker and a therapeutic target.

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Profiles of extracellular miRNAs in the aqueous humor of glaucoma patients assessed with a microarray system.

METHODS. We followed 78,977 women from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and 41,202 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) who were at least 40 years of age, did not have glaucoma, and reported undergoing eye examinations from 1980 (NHS) or 1986 (HPFS) to 2008. Information on consumption of caffeine-containing beverages and potential confounders were repeatedly ascertained in validated followup questionnaires. Confirmation with medical record review revealed 360 incident EG/EGS cases. Multivariate rate ratios (RRs) for EG/EGS were calculated in each cohort and then pooled using meta-analytic techniques. RESULTS. Compared with participants whose cumulatively updated total caffeine consumption was <125 mg/day, participants who consumed ‡500 mg/day had a trend toward increased risk of EG/EGS that was not statistically significant (RR ¼ 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98–2.08); P trend ¼ 0.06). Compared to abstainers, those who drank ‡3 cups of caffeinated coffee daily were at increased risk of EG/EGS (RR ¼ 1.66; 95% CI, 1.09–2.54; P trend ¼ 0.02). These results were not materially altered after adjustment for total fluid intake. Associations were stronger among women with a family history of glaucoma (P interaction ¼ 0.06 for coffee; P interaction ¼ 0.03 for caffeine). We did not find associations with consumption of other caffeinated products (caffeinated soda, caffeinated tea, decaffeinated coffee or chocolate) and risk of EG/EGS (P trend ‡0.31). CONCLUSIONS. We observed a positive association between

The Relationship between caffeine and coffee consumption and exfoliation glaucoma or glaucoma suspect: a prospective study in two cohorts.

Purpose Lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) is a copper-dependant amine oxidase that plays an essential role in elastogenesis. Two non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms of LOXL1, R141L (rs1048661) and G153D (rs3825942), have been reported to significantly increase susceptibility to exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). To evaluate the impact of the R141L and G153D variations on the amine oxidase activity of LOXL1, we generated four different haplotypes of LOXL1 with R141L and G153D and assessed the amine oxidase activity of the LOXL1 variant proteins. Methods The four different haplotype variants of LOXL1 were created by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis in an LOXL1 expression vector. Recombinant LOXL1 variant proteins were purified by nickel-affinity chromatography. The amine oxidase activities of the LOXL1 variant proteins were assessed using peroxidase-coupled fluorometric assays. Results All of the haplotype variants of LOXL1 (141R-153G, 141R-153D, 141L-153G, and 141L-153D) showed β-aminopropionitrile-inhibitable amine oxidase activity toward elastin, type I collagen, and cadaverine, indicating that each LOXL1 variant functions as an amine oxidase. However, there were no significant differences in amine oxidase activity between the LOXL1 haplotype variants toward the tested substrates. Conclusions The R141L and G153D variations in the NH(2)-terminal region of LOXL1 do not affect the amine oxidase activity of LOXL1. This is consistent with recent genetic findings on the reversal of risk alleles of R141L and G153D in different ethnic backgrounds. Our results suggest that other unknown genetic factors or molecular mechanisms may be more relevant to the development of XFG.

http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v18/a30/mv-v18-a30-kim.pdf

Variations in LOXL1 associated with exfoliation glaucoma do not affect amine oxidase activity.

Purpose of reviewExfoliation syndrome (XFS), the most common cause of secondary open angle glaucoma, is associated with significant ocular morbidity. Recent studies have pointed toward environmental components that may alter the risk of XFS development. This review focuses on the recent studies eluc

Exfoliation syndrome: a disease with an environmental component.

Purpose: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XFS) is a major risk factor for exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). A significant association exists between XFG and several SNPs in the lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) gene. The purpose of this study was to report the results of the first association study between LOXL1 polymorphisms and XFS and/or XFG in a Latin American population.Methods: Genotypes of three high-risk SNPs of LOXL1 (rs1048661, rs3825942, and rs2165241) were analyzed by direct sequencing. A case-control study was conducted with 102 unrelated XFS/XFG Mexican patients (42 XFS/60 XFG) as well as 97 control subjects. Allele frequencies, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and haplotype association analysis were assessed with the Haplo View software.Results: The T allele of the intronic SNP rs2165241 was more frequent in XFS/XFG patients than in controls (OR [95% CI] = 2.41 [1.59–3.64]; p = 0.00001). The G allele of rs3825942 was found in a higher frequency in XFS/XFG than in controls (100% vs 95% respectively, p = 0.0019)....

Prevalence of high-risk alleles in the LOXL1 gene and its association with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and exfoliation glaucoma in a Latin American population.

Gerardo Valdés

Papers

Prevalence of high-risk alleles in the LOXL1 gene and its association with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and exfoliation glaucoma in a Latin American population.