title: Lack of association between the c.544G>A polymorphism of the heme oxygenase-2 gene and age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a primary cause of blindness among the elderly in developed countries. The nature of AMD is complex and includes both environmental and hereditary factors. Oxidative stress is thought to be essential in AMD pathogenesis. Iron is suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of AMD through the catalysis of the production of reactive oxygen species, which can damage the retina. Heme oxygenase-2 is capable of degradation of heme producing free iron ions, thus, diversity in heme oxygenase-2 gene may contribute to AMD. In the present work we analyzed the association between the c.544G>A polymorphism of the heme oxygenase-2 gene (HMOX2) (rs1051308) and AMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study enrolled 276 AMD patients and 105 sex- and age-matched controls. Genotyping of the polymorphism was performed with restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) on DNA isolated from peripheral blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We did not find any association between the genotypes of the c.544G>A polymorphism and the occurrence of AMD. This lack of association was independent of potential AMD risk factors: tobacco smoking, sex and age. Moreover, we did not find any association between AMD and smoking in our study population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the c.544G>A polymorphism of the heme oxygenase-2 gene is not associated with AMD in this Polish subpopulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wysokinski
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Synowiec
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chmielewska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wozniak
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaras
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sklodowska
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blasiak
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szaflik
authors.forename: Jacek Pawel
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Szaflik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); C105245:heme oxygenase-2