title: Identification of a Novel Mucin Gene HCG22 Associated With Steroid-Induced Ocular Hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pathophysiology of ocular hypertension (OH) leading to primary open-angle glaucoma shares many features with a secondary form of OH caused by treatment with glucocorticoids, but also exhibits distinct differences. In this study, a pharmacogenomics approach was taken to discover candidate genes for this disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A genome-wide association study was performed, followed by an independent candidate gene study, using a cohort enrolled from patients treated with off-label intravitreal triamcinolone, and handling change in IOP as a quantitative trait.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An intergenic quantitative trait locus (QTL) was identified at chromosome 6p21.33 near the 5' end of HCG22 that attained the accepted statistical threshold for genome-level significance. The HCG22 transcript, encoding a novel mucin protein, was expressed in trabecular meshwork cells, and expression was stimulated by IL-1, and inhibited by triamcinolone acetate and TGF-β. Bioinformatic analysis defined the QTL as an approximately 4 kilobase (kb) linkage disequilibrium block containing 10 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Four of these SNPs were identified in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GTEx eQTL browser as modifiers of HCG22 expression. Most are predicted to disrupt or improve motifs for transcription factor binding, the most relevant being disruption of the glucocorticoid receptor binding motif. A second QTL was identified within the predicted signal peptide of the HCG22 encoded protein that could affect its secretion. Translation, O-glycosylation, and secretion of the predicted HCG22 protein was verified in cultured trabecular meshwork cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Identification of two independent QTLs that could affect expression of the HCG22 mucin gene product via two different mechanisms (transcription or secretion) is highly suggestive of a role in steroid-induced OH.
authors: USC Institute for Genetic Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States 2USC Eye Institute/Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California.
authors: Shinwu
authors: S
authors: Jeong
authors: USC Institute for Genetic Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States.
authors: Nitin
authors: N
authors: Patel
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States.
authors: Christopher K
authors: CK
authors: Edlund
authors: USC Institute for Genetic Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States.
authors: Jaana
authors: J
authors: Hartiala
authors: USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States.
authors: Dennis J
authors: DJ
authors: Hazelett
authors: USC Institute for Genetic Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States.
authors: Tatsuo
authors: T
authors: Itakura
authors: USC Institute for Genetic Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States 5Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Pei-Chang
authors: PC
authors: Wu
authors: California Retina Consultants, Santa Barbara, California, United States.
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Avery
authors: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States.
authors: Janet L
authors: JL
authors: Davis
authors: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States.
authors: Harry W
authors: HW
authors: Flynn
authors: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States.
authors: Geeta
authors: G
authors: Lalwani
authors: USC Eye Institute/Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States 7Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Med.
authors: Carmen A
authors: CA
authors: Puliafito
authors: Retina Health Center, Fort Myers, Florida, United States.
authors: Hussein
authors: H
authors: Wafapoor
authors: Department of Pathophysiology and Host Defense, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Minako
authors: M
authors: Hijikata
authors: Department of Pathophysiology and Host Defense, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Naoto
authors: N
authors: Keicho
authors: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
authors: Xiaoyi
authors: X
authors: Gao
authors: The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary and Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Argüeso
authors: USC Institute for Genetic Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States 3Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angele.
authors: Hooman
authors: H
authors: Allayee
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States 4USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los An.
authors: Gerhard A
authors: GA
authors: Coetzee
authors: Department of Molecular Therapeutics, The Scripps Research Institute-Scripps Florida, Jupiter, Florida, United States.
authors: Mathew T
authors: MT
authors: Pletcher
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States.
authors: David V
authors: DV
authors: Conti
authors: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States.
authors: Stephen G
authors: SG
authors: Schwartz
authors: Retina Health Center, Fort Myers, Florida, United States.
authors: Alexander M
authors: AM
authors: Eaton
authors: USC Institute for Genetic Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States 2USC Eye Institute/Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California.
authors: M Elizabeth
authors: ME
authors: Fini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009077:Mucins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014221:Triamcinolone