Plexin domain containing 2 (PLXDC2) gene polymorphism rs7081455 may not influence POAG risk in a Saudi cohort

Plexin domain containing 2 (PLXDC2), a cell surface transmembrane protein receptor for pigment epithelium derived factor, is expressed in many tissues including the eye. Polymorphism rs7081455 flanking PLXDC2 has been associated with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and its clinical phenotypes and may have a role in POAG. Rs7081455 was genotyped in POAG cases (n = 188) and non-glaucomatous controls (n = 164) of Saudi origin using Taq-Man^® to determine any association of this variant with POAG and its endophenotypes.

The risk variant, 'G' allele, frequency was 0.56 and 0.52 in controls and POAG cases, respectively (p = 0.197) with was no significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Genotype analysis between cases and controls revealed no significant distribution under additive (p = 0.482), dominant (p = 0.590) and recessive models (p = 0.228). In addition, glaucoma specific phenotypic traits such as intraocular pressure (IOP) and cup/disc ratio; and number of anti-glaucoma medications, used to assess severity of the disease, were also statistically non-significant. Furthermore, regression analysis showed no significant effect of age, sex and genotype on disease outcome. Rs7081455 was not associated with POAG or its clinical phenotypes such as IOP and cup/disc ratio and hence may not be a significant risk factor for POAG patients of Saudi origin.