Purpose: A linkage study on autosomal recessive high myopia (arHM) has not been reported, although several loci for autosomal dominant high myopia (adHM) have been mapped. Data from a consanguineous Chinese family with arHM were collected to map the genetic locus associated with this condition.
Methods: Phenotypic information and DNA samples were collected from family members. A genome-wide linkage scan combined with homozygosity mapping was performed by using 382 microsatellite DNA markers from the entire genome spaced at intervals of about 10 cM.
Results: The pedigree and clinical data of the family indicate that the high myopia is autosomal recessive. A genome-wide scan of chromosomes 1-22 gave a LOD score greater than 1.0 for 22 markers. Linkage to most of these markers was not supported by closely flanking markers except for three possible loci on chromosomes 11, 14, and 17. Fine mapping and haplotype analysis provide evidence for a locus at 14q22.1-q24.2 in a 25.23 Mb region between markers D14S984 and D14S999 with a maximum LOD score of 2.19. All 11 microsatellite markers inside the linkage interval as well as haplotype construction point to a gene at this locus. Linkage elsewhere on chromosome 11 and chromosome 17 could not be excluded due to the small size of the family.
Conclusions: Pedigree and clinical data suggest that an autosomal recessive gene is responsible for high myopia in a consanguineous Chinese family. Genome-wide linkage analysis was used to map the gene for high myopia to a few limited loci. The resultant information should help future studies identify the gene for arHM. To our knowledge, this report is the first clinical and linkage study on a consanguineous family with arHM.