Association of E-Cadherin Gene 3’-UTR C/T Polymorphism with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Vol. 38, No. 1, 2006

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Original Paper

Association of E-Cadherin Gene 3'-UTR C/T Polymorphism with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
Hui-Ju Lin^a-c, Fuu-Jen Tsai^a, Porting Hung^b, Wen-Chi Chen^a, Huey-Yi Chen^a, Seng-Sheen Fan^c, Shih-Wei Tsai^d

Departments of
^aMedical Genetics and
^bOphthalmology, China Medical University Hospital,
^cDepartment of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung;
^dInstitute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmic Res 2006;38:44-48 (DOI: 10.1159/000089523)

Key Words

E-cadherin
Primary open angle glaucoma
Metalloproteinases
Apoptosis
Polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

Purpose: E-cadherin (E-CDH) is one of the most important cell surface glycoproteins involved in cell morphogenesis. In primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), the extracellular matrixes of trabecular meshwork and lamina cribrosa in the optic nerve head are out of balance. We suspected that E-CDH by way of metalloproteinases is closely related to POAG. We therefore investigated the relationship between CDH-1 gene 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) polymorphism and POAG patients in order to support this hypothesis. Patients and Methods: We enrolled 60 POAG patients and 103 healthy volunteers from the Department of Ophthalmology at the China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwain, ROC. None of the control subjects had a history of eye disease and all underwent the same examination as the POAG patients. PCR-based analysis of the restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to test the CDH-1 gene 3'-UTR polymorphism. All statistical analyses were performed by the chi ² test. Result: There was a significant difference in the distribution of the CDH-1 gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism between POAG patients and the normal controls (p <0.000). The odds ratio of the 'C' allele was al so significantly different between both groups (odds ratio = 5.510, 95% confidence interval = 3.171-9.574). Conclusion: CDH-1 is closely related to metalloproteinase and plays an important but not well-understood role in the onset and progression of POAG. The exact role of CDH-1 in POAG could be resolved by the posttranslated products of the gene and the protein-protein interaction of the gene products in the future.

Author Contacts

Fuu-Jen Tsai, MD, PhD
Department of Medical Genetics and Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital
No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung, 404 Taiwan (ROC)
Tel. +886 4 22062121, ext. 7080, Fax +886 4 22033295
E-Mail d0704@www.cmuh.org.tw

Article Information

Received: June 12, 2003
Accepted after revision: January 6, 2005
Published online: November 7, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 25

Medline Abstract (ID 16276119)

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