Background: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an important cytoprotective enzyme due to its ability to degrade pro-inflammatory heme. The common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2071746 on the HMOX1 gene has been associated with HO-1 activity and a variety of cardiovascular diseases. This study was performed to investigate the association between the rs2071746 SNP and retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
Methods: We included 496 RVO patients and 297 control subjects in this case-control study. Genotypes of the rs2071746 polymorphism were determined by TaqMan assays.
Results: There was no association between the rs2071746 genotype and the presence of RVO (p = .443). The lack of association was found in all three logistic regression models, namely the dominant (p = .560), the recessive (p = .373) and the co-dominant model (p = .444). The distribution of the rs2071746 genotype was 30% (AA), 51% (AT), and 19% (TT). Baseline characteristics were similar between these genotypes, except for diabetes mellitus, which was less prevalent in the AA genotype (p < .001).
Conclusion: The rs2071746 polymorphism does not seem to be a major risk factor for the presence of RVO.
Keywords: HMOX1; HO-1; Heme oxygenase-1; RVO; polymorphism; retinal vein occlusion.