Genetic polymorphisms in the promoter of the interferon gamma receptor 1 gene are associated with atopic cataracts.
OBJECTIVE
Previous reports have shown genetic predisposition for atopic dermatitis (AD). Some of the severe complications of AD manifest in the eye, such as cataract, retinal detachment, and keratoconjunctivitis. This study was conducted to examine the genetic association between the atopy-related genes and patients with ocular complications (ocular AD).


METHODS
Seventy-eighty patients with ocular AD and 282 healthy control subjects were enrolled in an investigation of the association between the atopy-related genes (FCERB, IL13, and IFNGR1) and ocular AD. Genetic association studies and functional analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were performed.


RESULTS
The -56TT genotype in the IFNGR1 promoter region was significantly associated with an increased risk of ocular AD under recessive models (chi(2) test, raw P = 0.0004, odds ratio 2.57). The -56TT genotype was more common in atopic cataracts. A reporter gene assay showed that, after stimulation with IFN-gamma, the IFNGR1 gene promoter construct that contained the -56T allele, a common allele in ocular AD patients, manifested higher transcriptional activity in lens epithelial cells (LECs) than did the construct with the -56C allele. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated higher IFNGR1 mRNA expression in the LECs in atopic than in senile cataracts. iNOS expression by IFNGR1-overexpressing LECs was enhanced on stimulation with IFN-gamma and LPS.


CONCLUSIONS
The -56T allele in the IFNGR1 promoter results in higher IFNGR1 transcriptional activity and represents a genetic risk factor for atopic cataracts.
Matsuda
Akira
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. akimatsu@ophth.kpu-m.ac.jp
Ebihara
Nobuyuki
N
Kumagai
Naoki
N
Fukuda
Ken
K
Ebe
Koji
K
Hirano
Koji
K
Sotozono
Chie
C
Tei
Mamoru
M
Hasegawa
Koichi
K
Shimizu
Makiko
M
Tamari
Mayumi
M
Namba
Kenichi
K
Ohno
Shigeaki
S
Mizuki
Nobuhisa
N
Ikezawa
Zenro
Z
Shirakawa
Taro
T
Hamuro
Junji
J
Kinoshita
Shigeru
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor
D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor