Association of the ZC3H11B, ZFHX1B and SNTB1 genes with myopia of different severities

Objective To investigate the associations of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ZC3H11B, ZFHX1B, VIPR2, SNTB1 and MIPEP genes with severities of myopia in Chinese populations. Methods Based on previous myopia genome-wide association studies, five SNPs (ZC3H11B rs4373767, ZFHX1B rs13382811, VIPR2 rs2730260, SNTB1 rs7839488 and MIPEP rs9318086) were selected for genotyping in a Chinese cohort of 2079 subjects: 252 extreme myopia, 277 high myopia, 393 moderate myopia, 366 mild myopia and 791 non-myopic controls. Genotyping was performed by TaqMan assays. Allelic frequencies of the SNPs were compared with myopia severities and ophthalmic biometric measurements. Results The risk allele T of ZC3H11B SNP rs4373767 was significantly associated with high myopia (OR=1.39, p=0.007) and extreme myopia (OR=1.34, p=0.013) when compared with controls, whereas ZFHX1B rs13382811 (allele T, OR=1.33, p=0.018) and SNTB1 rs7839488 (allele G, OR=1.71, p=8.44E-05) were significantly associated with extreme myopia only. In contrast, there was no significant association of these SNPs with moderate or mild myopia. When compared with mild myopia, subjects carrying T allele of rs4373767 had a risk of progressing to high myopia (spherical equivalent <=-6 dioptres) (OR=1.29, p=0.017). Similarly, the T allele of rs13382811 also imposed a significant risk to high myopia (OR=1.36, p=0.007). In quantitative traits analysis, SNPs rs4373767, rs13382811 and rs7839488 were correlated with axial length and refractive errors. Conclusions We confirmed ZC3H11B as a susceptibility gene for high and extreme myopia, and ZFHX1B and SNTB for extreme myopia in Chinese populations. Instead of myopia onset, these three genes were more likely to impose risks of progressing to high and extreme myopia.