Complement factor H polymorphism in age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between complement factor H (CFH) polymorphism T1277C (tyrosine-402 --> histidine-402) and phenotypic variations of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study.


METHODS
Subjects with dry or wet AMD and a control population consisting of age-matched non-AMD subjects from 2 clinical facilities examined during the period January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2002.


METHODS
Total DNA isolated from the leukocytes of 66 AMD subjects and 58 age-matched control subjects was studied. The CFH gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by Nla III restriction fragment length analysis.


METHODS
Incidence of CHF polymorphism with the occurrence of AMD.


RESULTS
Among the AMD patients, 15 had dry and 51 had wet AMD. For the CFH gene, the T1277C variant showed the genotype distribution as CC, TC, and TT. There was a strong association between homozygous C and AMD compared with the control population (odds ratio [OR] = 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-8.74; P = 0.0053). Furthermore, dry AMD had a stronger association (OR, 8.32; 95% CI, 2.30-30.11; P = 0.001) than wet AMD (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 0.90-6.84; P = 0.039) compared with the control population. Homozygous T was more prevalent in the control subjects compared with AMD patients (OR, 5; 95% CI, 2.18-11.43; P = 0.00005).


CONCLUSIONS
Complement factor H polymorphism T1277C (tyrosine-402 --> histidine-402) is strongly associated with both dry and wet AMD and points to a possible role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of AMD.
Narayanan
Raja
R
Department of Ophthalmology, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, California, USA.
Butani
Virit
V
Boyer
David S
DS
Atilano
Shari R
SR
Resende
Gilberto P
GP
Kim
David S
DS
Chakrabarti
Subhabrata
S
Kuppermann
Baruch D
BD
Khatibi
Nikan
N
Chwa
Marilyn
M
Nesburn
Anthony B
AB
Kenney
M Cristina
MC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003596:Cytosine; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006639:Histidine; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013941:Thymine; D014443:Tyrosine
D014443:Tyrosine; D006639:Histidine; D017242:Complement Factor H; D003596:Cytosine; D013941:Thymine