Association of C3 Gene Polymorphisms with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Chinese Population

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the genetic polymorphisms of complement factor 3 (C3) are associated with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Chinese population. Methods: A total of 123 unrelated Chinese Han patients with neovascular AMD and 130 control subjects were recruited. Their six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the C3 gene, one in the complement factor H (CFH) gene and two in the complement factor B (CFB) gene were characterized. Their genotypes, allele frequencies, and odds ratios were analyzed. Results: The G allele of the C3 IVS2 rs2250656, but not other tested C3 SNPs of rs2230205, rs10411506, rs2230199, rs339392, and rs163913, was significantly associated with a reduced risk for AMD in the Chinese population (OR 0.605, 95% CI 0.39–0.93, p = 0.023), even after adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, CFH rs1061170, CFB rs4151667, and CFB rs641153 allele status (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35–0.96, p = 0.033). However, the C3 haplotype of A-A-...