Integrating genetic regulation and single-cell expression with GWAS prioritizes causal genes and cell types for glaucoma

Abstract

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), characterized by retinal ganglion cell death, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide; however, the molecular and cellular causes are not well understood. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor, but many patients have normal IOP. Colocalization and Mendelian randomization analysis of >240 POAG and IOP GWAS loci and of overlapping eQTLs and sQTLs in 49 GTEx tissues and retina prioritized causal genes for 60% of loci. These genes were enriched in pathways implicated in extracellular matrix organization, cell adhesion, and vascular development. Analysis of single-nucleus RNA-seq of glaucoma-relevant eye tissues revealed that the colocalizing genes and genome-wide POAG and IOP associations were enriched in specific cell types in the aqueous outflow pathways, retina, optic nerve head, peripapillary sclera, and choroid. This study nominated IOP-dependent and independent regulatory mechanisms, genes, and cell types that may contribute to POAG pathogenesis.