Relationship between systemic cytokines and complement factor H Y402H polymorphism in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration

Sijia Cao, Ashley Ko, Marita Partanen, Kaivon Pakzad-Vaezi, Andrew B. Merkur, David A. Albiani, Andrew W. Kirker, Aikun Wang, Jing Z. Cui, Farzin Forooghian, Joanne A. Matsubara

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the relationship between systemic cytokines, the complement factor H (CFH) Y402H polymorphism, drusen load, and subfoveal choroidal thickness in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Forty-four dry AMD patients under care of the Retina Service at the University of British Columbia were enrolled. Drusen load was measured with an automated software algorithm in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography; subfoveal choroidal thickness was measured manually using enhanced depth imaging. Bio-Plex suspension assays (Bio-Rad Laboratories) were used to analyze cytokines in plasma and CFH Y402H was genotyped. Statistical analyses included analysis of covariance and Pearson correlation, corrected for multiple comparisons. Results The levels of 3 of 4 studied cytokines were significantly different among patients with CC, CT, or TT variants of the CFH Y402H polymorphism (P <.01). Patients with the at-risk CC variant had higher systemic levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-18, and tumor necrosis factor α than those with the CT variants, the TT variant, or both (P <.01). Interleukin-1β did not reach significance (P =.02), but did demonstrate a consistent trend. No correlation was found between plasma cytokines and drusen load or choroidal thickness (all P >.15). Conclusions The elevated systemic levels of selected proinflammatory cytokines, including those representing products of inflammasome activation, were associated with the CC at-risk variant of the Y402H polymorphism and suggest that genetic factors regulate the inflammatory status in dry AMD patients. Our data support the central role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of AMD and provide further evidence of a systemic involvement in AMD etiology.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1176-1183
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume156
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013
Externally publishedYes

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