title: Mitochondrial haplogroups and control region polymorphisms in age-related macular degeneration: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Onset and development of the multifactorial disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are highly interrelated with mitochondrial functions such as energy production and free radical turnover. Mitochondrial dysfunction and overproduction of reactive oxygen species may contribute to destruction of the retinal pigment epithelium, retinal atrophy and choroidal neovascularization, leading to AMD. Consequently, polymorphisms of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) are postulated to be susceptibility factors for this disease. Previous studies from Australia and the United States detected associations of mitochondrial haplogroups with AMD. The aim of the present study was to test these associations in Middle European Caucasians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mitochondrial haplogroups (combinations of mtDNA polymorphisms) and mitochondrial CR polymorphisms were analyzed in 200 patients with wet AMD (choroidal neovascularization, CNV), in 66 patients with dry AMD, and in 385 controls from Austria by means of multiplex primer extension analysis and sequencing, respectively. In patients with CNV, haplogroup H was found to be significantly less frequent compared to controls, and haplogroup J showed a trend toward a higher frequency compared to controls. Five CR polymorphisms were found to differ significantly in the two study populations compared to controls, and all, except one (T152C), are linked to those haplogroups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that haplogroup J is a risk factor for AMD, whereas haplogroup H seems to be protective for AMD.
authors.affiliation: Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Edith E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schaier
authors.forename: Susanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Waltraud
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.forename: Stefan F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nischler
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oberkofler
authors.forename: Herbert A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Reitsamer
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Patsch
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sperl
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kofler
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044465:White People