Study identifies gene linked to normal tension glaucoma

Two hundred and fifty Japanese patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and 318 healthy Japanese control subjects were enrolled to investigate whether toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) polymorphisms are associated with NTG. Eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TLR4 gene were genotyped and allelic and phonotypic diversity was assessed between case and control subjects. Researchers found that multiple SNPs within the high-LD region of the TLR4 gene are associated with the risk of NTG. This finding suggests that the ligands and/or cytokines involved in the TLR4 signaling network may be risk factors for the development of NTG.

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, October 2008