title: BDNF and HSP gene polymorphisms and their influence on the progression of primary open-angle glaucoma in a Polish population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease that is often associated with high intraocular pressure (IOP). One of the effects of elevated IOP is disorder of neurotrophic molecules transport, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and recruit specific cellular proteins called "heat shock proteins" (HSPs). The aim of this study was to evaluate a relationship between the BDNF and HSP70-1 gene polymorphisms with risk occurrence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of 167 patients with POAG (mean age: 73 ±9) and 193 healthy subjects (mean age: 64 ±13). Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. Analysis of the gene polymorphisms was performed using PCR-RFLP, using the following restriction enzymes: NlaIII (rs6265) and BsrBI (rs1043618). The Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT) clinical parameters were also analyzed. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each genotype and allele were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of the distributions of genotypes and alleles of the 196G/A polymorphism of the BDNF gene as well as 190G/C polymorphism of the HSP70-1 gene and analysis of the odds ratio (OR) showed no statistically significant differences between POAG patients and controls (p > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant association of the 196G/A of BDNF and 190G/C of HSP70-1 gene polymorphisms with progression of POAG depending on values of clinical parameters. 196G/A of BDNF correlated with the parameters GDx and RA (p = 0.03; p = 0.002, respectively), while 190G/C of HSP70-1 correlated with c/d and RA (p = 0.014, p = 0.024, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BDNF 196G/A and HSP70-1 190G/C gene polymorphisms may be related to progression of POAG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology II, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Szaflik
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology II, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gacek
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Przybylowska-Sygut
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology II, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology II, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szaflik
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Ireneusz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Majsterek
keywords: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; gene polymorphism; glaucoma; heat shock proteins; intraocular pressure