Gene polymorphisms associated with the remodeling of the connective tissue as markers of preclinical diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma in patients with hereditary predisposition

Objective: to study gene polymorphisms associated with the remodeling of the connective tissue of the eye as markers of preclinical diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma in patients with hereditary predisposition. Materials and methods: a total of 144 persons (56 men, 88 women), average age 59.3±6.2, were examined, not related, of Russian nationality. Group I consisted of 40 individuals suspected to affected by glaucoma, group II included 40 individuals with a diagnosis of I-II stage POAG in one or both eyes. Patients of both groups had a complicated family history of glaucoma. The control group consisted of 64 relatively healthy individuals. All patients underwent standard and special ophthalmological examination, as well as molecular genetic testing. Results: carriage of GT genotype and T allele of rs8136803 polymorphism (TIMP3), AG genotype and A allele of rs652438 polymorphism (MMP12), GA genotype and A allele of rs3825942 polymorphism (LOXL1) was associated with the development of POAG. The rs1048661 polymorphism of the LOXL1 gene cannot be considered as a marker of POAG development. Conclusion: the study indicates the need to develop a correct algorithm for diagnosing patients with POAG and suspected glaucoma with the inclusion of molecular genetic studies.