title: Association of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism with primary glaucoma in Saudi population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a critical enzyme in folate metabolism is involved in DNA synthesis, DNA repair and DNA methylation. The functional polymorphism of MTHFR gene, C677T has been shown to impact various diseases and implicated as a risk factor for the development of various neurodegenerative disorders including glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated MTHFR C677T genotypes and alleles frequencies in primary glaucoma [primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG)] patients and matched healthy controls in a case-control study. Two hundred ten primary glaucoma cases were studied for MTHFR C677T polymorphism and compared with 280 controls taken from the healthy population, employing the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP). The MTHFR gene was amplified using specific primers. The PCR products (294 bp) was subsequently digested with HinfI (New England Biolabs) at 37 °C for 12 h, separated by electrophoresis on 2 % agarose gels, and visualized with ethidium bromide staining. The restriction digestion yielded 168 and 126 bp fragments for TT, 294, 168 and 126 bp fragments for CT and undigested PCR product 294 bp indicating CC genotype.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found the frequency of the genotypes and alleles of MTHFR C677T differ significantly between cases and controls. The frequencies of allele T and genotype CT were significantly higher while the frequencies of allele C and genotype CC were lower in primary glaucoma patients as compared to controls (p <0.05). Upon stratification of our results into POAG and PACG, significantly higher frequencies of allele T (19.44 %) and genotype CT (38.89 %) were found in POAG patients compared to controls (12.5 % and 25 % respectively). The frequencies of alleles and genotypes were almost similar in PACG and controls (p = 0.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that the allele T and genotype CT of MTHFR C677T polymorphism are significantly associated with POAG while allele C and CC genotype may be protective for it. We conclude that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism increases the risk for POAG development in Saudi population and can be a genetic marker however, further studies are needed with multiple-ethnic populations affected with POAG to strengthen these findings.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Hamoud
authors: H
authors: Al-Shahrani
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Najwa
authors: N
authors: Al-Dabbagh
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Nourah
authors: N
authors: Al-Dohayan
authors: Research Centre, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, P.O. Box 7897, Riyadh, 11159, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Misbahul
authors: M
authors: Arfin
authors: Research Centre, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, P.O. Box 7897, Riyadh, 11159, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Al-Asmari
authors: Research Centre, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, P.O. Box 7897, Riyadh, 11159, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Sadaf
authors: S
authors: Rizvi
authors: Research Centre, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, P.O. Box 7897, Riyadh, 11159, Saudi Arabia. abdulrahman.alasmari@gmail.com.
authors: Abdulrahman
authors: A
authors: Al-Asmari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000235:genetics*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia
chemical_list: D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
keywords: Genetics; Genotyping; Glaucoma; MTHFR; Polymorphism; Saudi