New susceptibility locus for high myopia is linked to the uromodulin-like 1 (UMODL1) gene region on chromosome 21q22.3

Abstract

Purpose: To ascertain and define the position of a potential disease susceptibility gene around D21S0083i prioritized during our previous whole genome case-control association analysis with 27158 microsatellite markers, in Japanese high-myopia patients. Methods: 520 high myopic patients and 520 healthy controls were genotyped using 39 SNPs distributed around D21S0083i on chromosome 21q22.3. Results: Only 1 SNP (rs2839471) of 39 SNPs was significant after correction for multiple testing (allele T: P=0.00027, Pc=0.01, OR=1.684). The SNP (rs2839471) did not reside in haplotype blocks constructed by the pair-wise linkage disequilibrium between the SNPs. Conclusions: The SNP (rs2839471) is suggested to be located in the frequent recombinant region within UMODL1. Together this region might play a critical role for susceptibility to high myopia, and warrants further confirming studies and investigations as to the mechanisms by which UMODL1 may contribute to myopia. © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.