Lysyl oxidase-like 1 gene polymorphisms in Japanese patients with primary open angle glaucoma and exfoliation syndrome

PURPOSE: To assess whether lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) polymorphisms are associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and exfoliation syndrome (XFS). METHODS: Japanese patients with POAG (n=213) or XFS (n=89) and 191 control subjects were analyzed for LOXL1 polymorphisms (rs1048661: 758G/T, Arg141Leu and rs3825942: 794G/A, Gly153Asp). Demographic and clinical features of POAG patients and control subjects were compared in terms of the TT/GG compound genotype of rs1048661 and rs3825942. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the genotype frequencies between XFS patients and control subjects (p<0.0001). Frequencies of the T allele of rs1048661 and the G allele of rs3825942 were significantly higher in XFS patients than in control subjects (rs1048661: 99.4% versus 55.0%; rs3825942: 99.4% versus 85.3%; p<0.0001). Except for one who had the TG/AG compound genotype, all XFS patients had the TT/GG compound genotype. An almost 250 fold increase in the risk of XFS (p<0.0001; odds ratio: 252.2; 95% confidence interval: 32.7 to more than 1000) was found in patients with the TT/GG compound genotype compared to those without the genotype. There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies between POAG patients and control subjects. Furthermore, no significant differences were noted in the demographic and clinical features of POAG patients as well as control subjects with and without the TT/GG high-risk compound genotype. CONCLUSIONS: LOXL1 polymorphisms were associated with XFS. However, the frequencies of the polymorphisms differed between Japanese and Caucasian XFS patients. These polymorphisms had no influence on the phenotypic features of POAG patients.