Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of LSS and HMGCR genes and age-related cataract

Abstract

AIM:To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of Lanosterol synthase(LSS)and 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase(HMGCR)genes and age-related cataract(ARC)risks. METHODS: This was a case-control study. The SNPs of the genes were assayed with TaqMan RT-PCR genotyping. The qRT-PCR was used to detect the LSS mRNA levels of lens epithelial cells(LECs)in individuals. The Chi-square test was used to compare differences of each SNPs between ARCs and controls and to calculate the odds ratio. RESULTS: We found that LSS-rs2968 of ARCs was different from controls(P=0.018), but the significance was lost after Bonferroni correction(P=0.072). We then further performed stratification analysis and found that LSS-rs2968 A allele was associated with nuclear type of ARC risk in Chinese population(P=0.003), and the significances still existed after Bonferroni correction(P=0.012). Consequently, we found that the LSS mRNA levels was lower in LECs of all subtypes of ARC group than that of control group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: LSS-rs2968 A allele might plays a role in the formation and development of nuclear type of ARC risk in Jiangsu population.

Keywords

• age-related cataract
• lanosterol
• lanosterol synthase
• 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase
• single nucleotide polymorphisms