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PDZD2 and Primary Open‐Angle Glaucoma: Functional Study of the Silencer‐Like Region in NT2 Neuronal Progenitor Cells

Primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) is a major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The risk of POAG increases when there is an elevation in the intraocular pressure (IOP) and vertical cup‐disc ratio (VCDR), which leads to the gradual loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In 2017, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs72759609, statistically significantly linked to POAG endophenotypes, was found within a highly conserved intronic region (~900 bp) of the PDZD2 locus (Fig. 1A). PDZD2 consists of six PDZ domains, and can be proteolytically cleaved at its C‐terminus to generate a secreted peptide (sPDZD2), which acts as an extracellular signaling molecule. Its expression was found in central nervous system (CNS), including sensory neurons. The fundus imaging unveiled larger optic cup (higher VCDR) in Pdzd2 heterozygous (Het) mutant mice when compared to wild‐type (WT) littermate (Fig. 2A). In addition, the H&E staining of the peripheral retina also showed a reduction in RGC number in Pdzd2 Het mouse (Fig. 2B).