Purpose: To investigate the genetic basis of primary closed angle glaucoma (PCAG) in European Basset Hounds using genome-wide association and RNA sequencing strategies.
Methods: DNA samples from 119 European Basset Hounds were genotyped on the 170 K SNP CanineHD BeadChip array (Illumina) comprising 37 with normal iridocorneal angles (controls), 57 with pectinate ligament abnormality (PLA cases), and 25 with PCAG (PCAG cases). Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of the PLA and PCAG cases were conducted. Whole transcriptome sequences of iridocorneal angle tissues from five Basset Hounds with PCAG were compared with those from four dogs with normal eyes to investigate differences in gene expression between the affected and unaffected eyes in GWAS-associated loci. A variant in NEB, previously reported to be associated with PCAG in American Basset Hounds, was genotyped in cohorts of European Basset Hounds and non-Basset Hounds.
Results: The GWASs revealed 1.4 and 0.2 Mb regions, on chromosomes 24 and 37, respectively, that are statistically associated with PCAG. The former locus has previously been associated with glaucoma in humans. Whole transcriptome analysis revealed differential gene expression of eight genes within these two loci. The NEB variant was not associated with PLA or PCAG in this set of European Basset Hounds.
Conclusions: We identified two novel loci for canine PCAG. Further investigation is required to elucidate candidate variants that underlie canine PCAG.