Mitochondrial DNA copy number, but not haplogroup is associated with keratoconus in Han Chinese population

- We studied the relationships between mtDNA haplogroup, copy number and keratoconus.
- Mitochondrial DNA haplogroup has no association with keratoconus in Han Chinese.
- Keratoconus patients have lower leukocyte mtDNA copy numbers than controls.
- Decreased leukocyte mtDNA copy number was associated with keratoconus in Han Chinese.

Oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of keratoconus (KC). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is closely related to mitochondrion function, and variations may affect the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and be involved in the pathogenesis of KC. To test whether mtDNA background and copy number confer genetic susceptibility to KC in the Han Chinese population, we performed this association study. We analyzed mtDNA sequence variations in 210 KC patients and 309 matched individuals from China, and classified each subject by haplogroup. Mitochondrial DNA copy number was measured in a subset of these subjects (193 patients and 103 controls). Comparison of matrilineal components of the cases and control populations revealed no significant difference. However, measurement of mtDNA copy number showed that KC patients had significantly lower mtDNA copy numbers than controls (P = 0.0002), even when age, gender, and mtDNA background were considered. Our results suggest that mtDNA copy number, but not haplogroup, is associated with keratoconus, and may contribute to its pathogenesis.