FPR1 interacts with CFH, HTRA1 and smoking in exudative age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

PURPOSE: To determine the genetic association of an inflammation-related gene, formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1), in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: The coding region of FPR1 gene was sequenced in 554 unrelated Chinese individuals: 155 exudative AMD patients, 179 PCV patients, and 220 controls. Interactions and combined effects of FPR1 with complement factor H (CFH), high temperature requirement factor A1 (HTRA1), and smoking were also investigated. RESULTS: A total of 28 polymorphisms in FPR1 were identified. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs78488639 increased the risk to exudative AMD (P=0.043) and PCV (P=0.016), whereas SNP rs867229 decreased the risk to exudative AMD (P=0.0026), but not PCV. Homozygous G allele of rs1042229 was associated with exudative AMD (P=0.0394, odds ratio (OR)=2.27, 95% confident interval: 1.08–4.74), but not with PCV. Exudative AMD, but not PCV, was associated with the heterozygous genotypes of rs2070746 (P=0.019, OR=0.57) and rs867229 (P=0.0082, OR=0.54). Significantly, interactions were identified among FPR1 rs78488639, CFH rs800292, and HTRA1 rs11200638 in both exudative AMD and PCV. Combined heterozygous risk alleles of CFH rs800292 GA and FPR1 rs78488639 CA were posed to PCV (P=2.22 × 10(−4), OR=10.47), but not exudative AMD. Furthermore, FPR1 rs78488639 CA combining with HTRA1 rs11200638 and smoking was also predisposed risks to exudative AMD and PCV. CONCLUSION: FPR1 is associated with exudative AMD and PCV in a Hong Kong Chinese cohort. FPR1 rs78488639 interacted with CFH rs800292, HTRA1 rs11200638, and smoking, enhancing risk to exudative AMD and PCV.