Association of polymorphisms of complement factor I rs141853578 (G119R) with age-related macular degeneration in Iranian population.

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex disease, and recent studies have shown role of complement system genes in its development. Complement factor I regulates the complement pathways, and relationship between CFI polymorphisms and AMD is controversial. We evaluated the possible association of complement factor I rs141853578 (G119R) variation with advanced AMD in Iranian patients. We included 371 case-control samples consisting of 220 advanced AMD patients and 151 genetically unrelated healthy controls. Extracted DNA samples amplified to obtain fragment including the polymorphic complement factor I rs141853578 (G119R) region. The distribution of the genotypes was significantly different in the AMD patients compared to that of controls (p=0.035). The TT genotype frequencies for CFI were significantly higher in AMD group (7.7 vs. 2%, OR 4.67, CI 1.33-16.45, p=0.016). This significant difference was maintained after adjustment for the effects of age and gender (OR 5.09, CI 1.42-18.20, p=0.012). The minor allele frequency (T allele) was also significantly higher in AMD patients compared to that of controls (29.3 vs. 21.5% OR 1.51, CI 1.07-2.13, p=0.018). Current study showed that CFI rs141853578 (G119R) is a risk factor for developing advanced type AMD. This study also suggests that the frequency of G119R polymorphism in our population is not as rare as reported from other populations.