Mitochondrial DNA haplogroup distribution in Chaoshanese with and without myopia.
OBJECTIVE
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups affect the clinical expression of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, age-related macular degeneration, and other diseases. The objective of this study is to investigate whether an mtDNA background is associated with myopia.


METHODS
Blood DNA was obtained from 192 college students, including 96 individuals with moderate-to-high myopia and 96 controls without myopia. All the subjects were from a well-known isolated population living in the Chaoshan area of east Guangdong Province and speaking one of the four major dialects in southern China. The mtDNA haplogroups in the 192 subjects were determined by sequencing the mtDNA control region and partial coding regions as well as by analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Each mtDNA was classified according to the updated version of the Eastern Asian haplogroup system.


RESULTS
Sixteen mtDNA haplogroups were recognized in the 192 subjects. The overall matrilineal structures of the samples with and without myopia were similar and had genetic imprints showing their ethno-origin. There was no statistical difference in frequencies of haplogroup distribution between subjects with and without myopia (chi(2) test, p=0.556).


CONCLUSIONS
We failed to identify clues that suggest an involvement of mtDNA background in the predisposition to myopia.
Wang
Qin
Q
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Wang
Panfeng
P
Li
Shiqiang
S
Xiao
Xueshan
X
Jia
Xiaoyun
X
Guo
Xiangming
X
Kong
Qing-Peng
QP
Yao
Yong-Gang
YG
Zhang
Qingjiong
Q
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000235:genetics*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial