The SNTB1 and ZFHX1B gene have susceptibility in northern Han Chinese populations with high myopia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the association between SNTB1 and ZFHX1B polymorphisms and high myopia (HM) in a Northern Han Chinese population. This case-control study included 457 HM and 860 healthy subjects from the Northern Han Chinese population. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs7839488, rs4395927, rs4455882, and rs6469937) in SNTB1 and one SNP in ZFHX1B (rs13382811)were selected based on two previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) studies. The allele and genotype distributions of SNPs in SNTB1 and ZFHX1B were compared between the two groups using the chi-square test. The allele results were adjusted for age and sex using Plink software (Plink 1.9). Pairwise linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype analyses were performed using SHEsis software. For HM subjects, the mean age was 44.80 ± 17.11 years, and for the control subjects, it was 44.41 ± 14.26 years. For rs7839488 of the SNTB1 gene, the A allele is a risk allele and the G allele is a wild allele. The A allele had no statistical significance with the HM cases and controls (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.74-1.09, ^aP = 0.273, Pc = NS). There was a LD in SNTB1 (rs7839488, rs4395927, rs4455882, and rs6469937). The G-C-A-G haplotype frequency was higher in HM subjects than that of the controls (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.07-1.60, P = 0.008). Meanwhile, the A-T-G-A haplotype frequency was slightly lower in the HM group (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.66-0.99, P = 0.048). In the ZFHX1B gene, the frequency of the minor T allele of rs13382811 was significant higher in the HM group than in the control group (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.11-1.61, ^aP = 0.001, Pc = 0.009). Furthermore, compared to the CC genotype, there were significant differences in the CT genotype (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.23-2.00, ^aP < 0.001, Pc = 0.002). In conclusion, G-C-A-G is a risk haplotype from the SNTB1 gene in high myopia patients. The minor T-allele of ZFHX1B rs13382811 is a risk factor for high myopia. SNTB1 and ZFHX1B are both risk genes associated with increased susceptibility to high myopia in the Northern Han Chinese population.

Keywords: Han Chinese population; High myopia; SNTB1; Single nucleotide polymorphisms; ZFHX1B.