Glaucoma Research Update, April 2010

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helsinki-university

14.04.2010

Dandie Dinmont Terrier glaucoma research update

Glaucoma is among the leading causes of blindness both in humans and in dogs. Glaucoma is defined by elevation of the intraocular pressure. Glaucoma can be hereditary or secondary due to some other ocular disease. Using a genome-wide mapping approach with canine-specific markers we have identified a novel glaucoma locus to CFA8 in Dandie Dinmont Terrier dog breed (DDT) with a late-onset disease. The overall associated region is large covering about 10 Mb of sequence but fine-mapping narrows the best haplotype to a 2 Mb critical region. Re-sequencing of the entire locus has been started. We are still waiting the results of this analysis.

 

Glaucoma in DDTs

Glaucoma is a painful disease with an increased intraocular pressure (IOP) that damages the optic nerve and causes loss of retinal ganglion cells. Damage in the optic nerve is permanent leading to irreversible loss of vision. The development of primary glaucoma is hereditary and caused by genetic factors. The development of glaucoma is related to structural abnormalities associated with the drainage or iridocorneal angle including pectinate ligament dysplasia.

Based on the gonioscopy results available from 26 out of 33 affected dogs in our study, primary glaucoma in DDTs develops slowly, affecting middle-aged and elderly dogs with an average age of onset at 7.07 years. The affected dogs had elevated IOP 25-42 mmHg (normal 15-25 mmHg). Gonioscopy revealed fibrae latae (broadened and abnormal) and laminae (thinned) changes in the pectinate ligaments and the affected dogs had narrowed or closed iridocorneal angles.

 

Genetic studies

With the help of the DDT owners and Clubs over 400 samples have been collected worldwide including 35 affected dogs.

To map the glaucoma loci in DTTs we performed a genome-wide association study in 23 cases and 23 controls. All controls were over 10 years old with the latest eye examination after 7 years of age. Fine-mapping of the associated region was performed with 146 additional DTT samples and 111 additional markers in the associated region.

Analysis of the data revealed the disease locus on CFA8 with a genome-wide significant association (Praw=1.6*10-7, Pgenome =0.00116). The associated region spans over a 10 Mb region including a large number of genes. Fine-mapping in a larger sample set narrowed the association to 7 Mb including the best associated 2 Mb region in the middle with p-value of 3.99*10-11.

 

Clinical studies

We have also initiated a clinical study about glaucoma in DDTs. 30 glaucoma affected dogs or dogs with familial risk of glaucoma are examined by veterinary ophthalmologist. This will give us a better understanding of the clinical picture of glaucoma in DDTs and how the disease may be inherited in the breed.

 

Results

We have mapped a canine locus on a late-onset glaucoma in DDTs and narrowed it down to a 2-Mb region. Ongoing sequencing efforts on candidate genes and the entire locus will likely result in the identification of the disease-causing mutation establishing the breed as an animal model for a hereditary glaucoma. This enables the development of a DNA test to eradicate the disease from the breed. Given that the human glaucoma locus maps to the syntenic region, identification of the mutation will lead to better understanding of the disease mechanisms in both species.

We are very excited about the early results in the project and are eagerly proceed to identify the glaucoma gene. The study is supported by Dandie Dinmont Trust, Kennel Club Charitable Trust, UK, Dandie Dinmont Club, UK and Finland, Academy of Finland, Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Biocentrum Helsinki, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, University of Helsinki Research Funds and Folkhälsan.

 

Hannes Lohi, professor
Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences and Medical Genetics
University of Helsinki and
Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics
Tel +358-9-191-25085
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Glaucoma research:
Saija Ahonen, MSc
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