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1From Eye Research Australia, the 5Department of Physiology, and the 6Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic, and Analytic Epidemiology, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; the 2Vision Cooperative Research Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; the 3Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; and the 4Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
| Abstract |
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–0.50 D).
METHODS. These families contained 49 participants (35 affected). The average spherical equivalent was –2.76 D (range, –0.50 to –10.25 D), average axial length was 24.52 mm (range, 23.05–27.11 mm), and average keratometry was 43.21 D (range, 39.12–47.31 D). Only five individuals in the three families presented with myopia of SphE
–6.00 D. Glaucoma, keratoconus, lenticonus, and dislocated lens were not present in any study participants. A genomewide scan was performed using a mapping set with 400 markers at
10 cM coverage. Merlin software was used for multipoint linkage analysis based on an AD model with a penetrance of 0.9 and disease allele frequency of 0.013.
RESULTS. Significant linkage with a multipoint parametric LOD score of 3.428 (P = 0.000035) and a multipoint nonparametric (Kong and Cox) LOD score of 2.37 (empiric P < 0.001) was obtained on 2q37.1, with a 1-LOD support interval that overlapped the previously reported MYP12 locus for high myopia.
CONCLUSIONS. This study provided evidence that some high-myopia loci may contribute to all degrees of myopia and indicated the likely location of a myopia gene for the low/moderate as well as the high form of myopia.
It is now well established that both environmental and genetic factors play a role in the etiology of myopia. A large quantity of literature is available on the environmental aspects of myopia, and excessive near work such as reading is the most commonly cited environmental risk factor in myopia.7 8 9 Twin studies have indicated that there is a substantial genetic component to disease, with heritability estimates for refraction raging from 0.58 to 0.94.10 11 12 13 Family studies in both Asian14 15 16 17 and Caucasian populations14 18 19 20 21 22 have also demonstrated that parental refractive status plays an important role in the refractive status of their offspring.
As myopia is a complex disease, identifying the gene(s) involved in the development and progression of myopia has been hampered by challenges inherent in mapping genes for complex disease, such as the high prevalence, genetic heterogeneity, and wide clinical spectrum of this condition. Nevertheless, several genetic loci (MYP1 to 12) have been linked with myopia. These include the loci at 2q37.1 (MYP12),23 4q22-27 (MYP11),24 7q36 (MYP4),25 12q23-24 (MYP3),26 17q21-22 (MYP5),27 18p11.31 (MYP2),26 and Xq28 (MYP1),28 which are linked to high myopia (SphE
–6.00 D). In addition, low/moderate (common) myopia (SphE
0.50 to
–5.99 D) has been linked to 22q12 (MYP6),29 11p13 (MYP7), 3q36 (MYP8), 4q12 (MYP9), and 8q23 (MYP10).30 There is now evidence to show that the high-myopia loci are heterogeneous.23 27 31 Further, it has been speculated that some high-myopia loci may contribute to all degrees of myopia.32 33 However, two studies that have attempted to achieve this have so far failed to replicate high-myopia loci (MYP2 and MYP3) when using the phenotype of common myopia (–1.00 or –0.75 D in each meridian).32 33
Common (low/moderate) myopia accounts for most of the disease prevalence in the United States, Western Europe, and Australia.4 Approximately five in six persons with myopia in the general United States and Western European population have common myopia.4 Compared with high myopia, common myopia is associated with lower rates of ocular diseases that may lead to vision loss, such as retinal detachment. However, given the high prevalence of common myopia, the absolute number of individuals who have uncorrectable vision loss due to complications of refractive error treatment such as contact lens–associated eye infection is substantial.4 Another reason for studying common myopia is that it may provide further insight into the pathogenesis of high myopia. Hence, to investigate further the genetic basis of common myopia, we performed a linkage analysis on three large myopia families identified from the Genes in Myopia (GEM) study.
| Subjects and Methods |
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Each participant signed a consent form and privacy statement, completed a questionnaire, underwent an ophthalmic examination, and donated a blood or saliva sample for DNA analysis. The questionnaire included demographic information, ethnicity, level of education, medical and ocular histories, refractive error–associated information such as age of diagnosis, type of correction, current prescription if known, and detailed family history. The eye examination for each participant included tests for presenting visual acuity, objective refraction, subjective refraction for best corrected visual acuity, ocular biometric measurements based on partial coherence inferometry readings using optical biometer (IOLMaster; Carl Zeiss Meditec, GmbH, Oberkochen, Germany) and corneal topography if indicated. Automated refraction was performed with an autorefractor (model RM-8800; Topcon American Corp., Paramus, NJ). Distance acuity was tested using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol with the logMAR chart at 3 m, illuminated at 130 cd/m2.35 All probands and family members under the age of 21 years underwent a noncycloplegic autorefraction and subjective refraction as well as cycloplegic autorefraction. For family members over 21 years of age, noncycloplegic autorefraction and subjective refraction were performed. For participants who had undergone refractive surgery, preoperative refraction was used. The preoperative refraction was measured using the GEM family study protocol by optometrists and orthoptists in MELG.34
DNA was isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes by use of standard techniques, and genotyping was performed at the Australian Genome Research Facility (AGRF; model 377 automated DNA sequencer; Applied Biosystems, Inc. [ABI] Foster City, CA) with linkage mapping (400 markers, average spacing 10 cM; Prism ver. 2 MD 10; ABI).
Genotype error checking was performed using PedManager version 0.9 (developed by M. P. Reeve-Daly and M. J. Daly; The Whitehead Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. http://www.genome.wi.mit.edu/ftp/distribution/software/pedmanager/) to identify Mendelian inconsistencies and probable incorrect genotypes on the basis of estimation of the probability of double-crossover events.36 A total of 23 genotype errors were detected in the cases. These genotypes were set to "missing" to minimize the possible impact of misspecified genotypes. No pedigree errors were detected.
Allele frequencies were estimated from 42 control subjects who were recruited from a similar but unrelated population from Victoria. Inclusion criteria for control subjects were: (1) 25 to 45 years of age; (2) SphE 0.50 to –0.50 D (normal refraction); (3) no reported family history of myopia; and (4) axial length of 22.5 to 23.5 mm. Individuals with a history of systemic or ocular disease that may predispose to myopia, including premature birth, were excluded from the control group. The control subjects were representative of the Victorian population as a whole, that is, predominantly of Anglo-Celtic ancestry, but with sizeable minorities from Italy and elsewhere in southern Europe.
There are several options in Merlin (ver 0.10.1; http://www.sph.umich.edu/csg/abecasis/merlin/index.html; provided in the public domain by the Center for Statistical Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI) to estimate allele frequencies from families being analyzed.37 However, there were only 19 founders in the three GEM family study pedigrees involved in this analysis. This number was considered insufficient for estimating allele frequencies; hence, we used a separate control population. Further, the controls were recruited from a similar but unrelated population from Victoria with stringent inclusion criteria to ensure that the controls were truly unaffected, hence provided a more closely matched and appropriate allele frequency dataset than most publicly available databases such as the CEPH database (Centre dEtude du Polymorphisme Humain).
Multipoint nonparametric (Kong and Cox) linkage analysis and multipoint and single-point parametric linkage analyses were performed with the Merlin program.37 There were very high correlations between the right and left ocular refractions (Pearson coefficient = 0.96), and therefore only right eyes were considered in all analyses. In terms of linkage definitions, affected was defined as SphE = –0.50 D or worse, unaffected as SphE better than –0.50 D, and unknown as all nonexamined individuals. In the nonparametric analysis, the Kong and Cox allele-sharing LOD score was calculated from IBD (identity by descent)-sharing probabilities inferred for affected individuals,38 and an empiric probability was determined from analysis of 1000 datasets simulated under the null hypothesis of no linkage. Three autosomal dominant penetrance models were tested in the multipoint parametric analyses, using probabilities of being affected for noncarriers (phenocopy rates) of 0.1 (Model 1) and 0.2 (Model 2) with a penetrance of 0.9 and a disease allele frequency of 0.0133.26 The two models were chosen to reflect the previous models used to identify candidate regions linked with common myopia (Model 1)29 and the prevalence of myopia in the local population (Model 2).39 Genetic distances were based on a deCode high-resolution genetic map,40 and graphic representation of haplotypes was constructed using Haplopainter.41
| Results |
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–6.00 D. Glaucoma, keratoconus, lenticonus, and dislocated lens were not present in any study participants. Table 1 summarizes the ophthalmic examination results for the participants.
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= 1. As genotyping errors can cause true linkage signals to be missed in multipoint analysis, we ran a single point parametric analysis using Model 2. However, the highest LOD score in this analysis was only 1.77.
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Multipoint nonparametric (Kong and Cox) and parametric linkage analyses with a more stringent phenotype definition (–1.00 D or worse in each meridian) were performed with the corresponding model used by Stambolian et al.29 in the identification of MYP6 (AD with 0.9 penetrance, allele frequency of 0.0133, and phenocopy rate of 0.10). The maximum multipoint parametric LOD score was 2.745 at D2S338 (P = 0.0002). This result remains a significant replication.
We did not find any evidence suggesting linkage to any other region of the genome including the previously reported loci for mild, moderate, or high myopia on 3q26, 4q12, 4q22-27, 7q36, 8p23, 11p13, 12q21-23, 17q21-22, 18p11.31, and 22q12 (Figs. 3 4) .
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In our analysis using either multipoint nonparametric or parametric linkage analysis, the strongest linkage signal was localized to 2q37.1 (nonparametric LOD = 2.37; parametric LOD = 3.415–4.002). Linkage to the MYP12 region was demonstrated in a large family of northern European descent with 31 participants, of whom 14 were affected with high myopia (SphE
–6.00 D).23 Paluru et al.23 obtained a maximum multipoint LOD score of 4.75 and maximum two-point LOD score of 5.67 at marker D2S2344 and reported a minimum critical disease region spanning 9.1 cM (238.7–247.8 cM on 2q37.1). The region described in the present study lies 5 cM distal to the max LOD reported in the study by Paluru et al.23 However, the 1-LOD support interval for the currently described region includes all of the MYP12 critical region. As no myopia disease gene has so far been identified from the MYP12 region, the results suggest replication of the region in the two studies. However, it is also possible that the locus described in the present study represents a novel locus that is actually distal to MYP12. Only further fine mapping and eventual disease gene identification will allow us to determine which of these scenarios is valid.
Two other MYP loci that have been successfully replicated are those of MYP242 43 and MYP6.44 MYP2 was first identified in eight multigenerational pedigrees with high myopia and of mixed ethnicity (Asian and Caucasian). Replication of this region has also been obtained in myopia families from these populations but only in those exhibiting high myopia.42 43 Although myopia is a common disease in which heterogeneity is likely to play a large role, there remains the possibility that some of the currently described MYP loci are false positives. Thus, replicated loci are likely to provide the most fruitful results in identifying the disease genes. The importance of cross-validation of results obtained by different groups in different populations cannot therefore be overstated.
In summary, we have observed a strong linkage signal for myopia to 2q37.1, a region that has been linked to high myopia. This suggests that gene(s) in this region may influence disease susceptibility to all degrees of myopia. The identification of susceptibility loci for low/moderate myopia will be of major public health importance, and provide insights into the pathogenesis of low/moderate as well as high myopia. It will give us a better understanding of the causes of this common eye disorder and eventually will lead to methods of preventing or slowing progression of this disease.
| Acknowledgements |
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| Footnotes |
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Submitted for publication October 4, 2006; revised March 28, April 29, and May 27, 2007; accepted August 20, 2007.
Disclosure: C.Y. Chen, None; J. Stankovich, None; K.J. Scurrah, None; P. Garoufalis, None; M. Dirani, None; K.K. Pertile, None; A.J. Richardson, None; P.N. Baird, None
The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. This article must therefore be marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C.
1734 solely to indicate this fact.
Corresponding author: Christine Y. Chen, Ocular Genetics Unit, Eye Research Australia, The University of Melbourne, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia; chris_chen30{at}hotmail.com.
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