BACKGROUND: We assessed the potential association between monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) variants (rs1024611 and rs3760396) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) susceptibility among Chinese Han people.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our research included 129 AMD patients and 131 healthy controls. Genotyping for MCP-1 variants was performed in the 2 groups, and genotype and allele distributions were checked between groups by χ² analysis. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) reflected the potential association between MCP-1 variants and AMD risk. The linkage disequilibrium of polymorphisms was detected using Haploview.

RESULTS: Significant differences in rs1024611 genotype distributions were detected between the 2 groups, and homozygous carriers with GG genotype had higher AMD incidence (P<0.05, OR=2.650, 95% CI=1.127–6.231). The rs1024611 G allele frequency was significantly higher in AMD patients, suggesting that the G allele promotes AMD onset (P<0.05, OR=1.447, 95% CI=1.013–2.068). Strong linkage disequilibrium was found between rs1024611 and rs3760396, and haplotype Ars1024611–Crs3760396 was significantly associated with decreased risk of AMD (P=0.001, OR=0.502, 95% CI=0.335–0.752).

CONCLUSIONS: MCP-1 rs1024611 variant appears to contribute to risk of AMD in the Chinese Han population, and the interaction of MCP-1 polymorphisms may also influence individual susceptibility to AMD.

Keywords: Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis, Macular Degeneration, Receptors, CCR2, Aged, 80 and over, Asians, Case-Control Studies, Chemokine CCL2, Gene Frequency, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genotype, Haplotypes, Linkage Disequilibrium, Odds Ratio, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide