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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 163, Number 2, February 2001, 469-473

Susceptibility Genes for Rapid Decline of Lung Function in the Lung Health Study

ANDREW J. SANDFORD, TABASSUM CHAGANI, TRACEY D. WEIR, JOHN E. CONNETT, NICHOLAS R. ANTHONISEN, and PETER D. PARÉ

The University of British Columbia Pulmonary Research Laboratory, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada




    ABSTRACT
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

The genes that contribute to the genetic susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that widely divergent rates of decline in lung function in smokers would be a robust phenotype for detection of genes that contribute to COPD severity. We selected 283 rapid decliners (Delta FEV1-154 ± 3 ml/yr) and 308 nondecliners (Delta FEV1 = +15 ± 2 ml/yr) from among smokers followed for 5 yr in the NHLBI Lung Health Study. Rapid decline of FEV1 was associated with the MZ genotype of the alpha 1-antitrypsin gene (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8, p = 0.03). This association was stronger for a combination of a family history of COPD with MZ (OR = 9.7, p = 0.03). These data suggest that the MZ genotype results in an increased rate of decline in lung function and interacts with other familial factors. Haplotype frequencies of the microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) gene were significantly different between rapid decliners and nondecliners (p = 0.03). A combination of a family history of COPD with homozygosity for the His113/His139 mEH haplotype was also associated with rapid decline of lung function (OR = 4.9, p = 0.04). The alpha 1-antitrypsin S and 3' polymorphisms, vitamin D-binding protein isoforms, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha G-308A and TNF-beta A252G) polymorphisms were not associated with rate of decline of lung function.



    INTRODUCTION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In a recent review of the global burden of human illness COPD ranked twelfth as a cause of lost quantity and quality of life and was projected to rank fifth by the year 2020 (1). Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor, but only 10-20% of smokers develop symptomatic COPD (2) and differences in cigarette smoke exposure account for only ~ 15% of the variation in lung function (3). Family (4) and twin studies (5) have shown that COPD is a complex genetic disease.

COPD is characterized by decreased expiratory flow rates, increased pulmonary resistance, hyperinflation, and abnormal gas exchange. The disease is caused by proteolytic destruction of the lung parenchyma resulting in emphysema and loss of lung elastic recoil, as well as by inflammatory narrowing of peripheral airways. Typically, both pathophysiological processes are found in individual patients with COPD although one may predominate.

Lung function, as measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), normally increases to a maximal value at adulthood, remains stable for 10-15 yr, and then declines (6). COPD can develop because of a reduced maximal lung function, an earlier age of onset of decline, or an accelerated rate of decline. Although the latter is thought to be related to genetic susceptibility to cigarette smoke few genetic studies have examined this phenotype.

The Lung Health Study (LHS) was conducted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and was designed to describe the natural history of cigarette-induced COPD (7). A total of 5,887 male and female smokers were recruited, aged 35 to 60 yr, who had spirometric signs of early COPD. During 5 yr of follow-up 3,216 subjects continued to smoke and from this group we selected the 283 with the fastest rate of decline of FEV1 and the 308 who had no decline. These subjects were genotyped for polymorphisms in the alpha 1-antitrypsin, microsomal epoxide hydrolase, vitamin D-binding protein, and tumor necrosis factor genes.

Homozygosity for the alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) Z allele is clearly a cause of accelerated decline in FEV1 due to reduced antiproteolysis in the lung parenchyma. However, it remains to be determined whether heterozygosity for the Z allele, the S deficiency allele (8), and the 3' allele (9) is also a risk factor for rapid decline in lung function.

Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) is a xenobiotic- metabolizing enzyme expressed in bronchial epithelial cells that metabolizes highly reactive epoxides in cigarette smoke. Polymorphisms in exon 3 (Tyr113right-arrow His) and exon 4 (His139right-arrow Arg) have been correlated with levels of mEH activity (10). The slowest activity haplotype (His113/His139) was associated with COPD in a U.K. population (11) and with more severe COPD in a Japanese population (12). However, these results were not confirmed in a Korean population (13).

The vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) has three common isoforms known as 1F, 1S, and 2. The 1F-1F genotype and the 2 allele have been associated with increased and decreased risk for COPD, respectively (14). These associations may be due to the effects of VDBP on neutrophil chemotaxis (15) and/or macrophage activation (16).

Polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha ) and TNF-beta (lymphotoxin) genes (TNF-alpha G-308A and TNF-beta A252G) have been associated with increased in vitro production of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta (17). An association between the TNF-alpha -308A allele and COPD was found in a Taiwanese (18) but not in a white population (19).


    METHODS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Subjects

All of the study subjects were white and had continued to smoke during the period of the LHS. Spirometry was performed annually over a period of 5 yr as previously described (7). The lung function of the subjects was assessed as FEV1 %predicted, that is, FEV1 adjusted for age, height, and sex (20). The rapid decliners had a decrease in FEV1 >=  3.0% predicted/yr and the nondecliners had an increase in FEV1 >=  0.4%/yr.

Genotyping

The subjects were genotyped for the alpha 1-AT Z and 3' mutations by a mutiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Primers for the Z allele were as described previously (21). Primers for the 3' mutation were 5'-GAC ACA GCA GCC AGG AAG TCC-3' and 5'-CTC TCA GGT CTG GTG TCA TCC-3'. Digestion with TaqI restriction enzyme produced an uncut 144-bp fragment from the Z allele, 123- and 21-bp fragments from the M allele, an uncut 373-bp fragment from the mutant 3' allele, and 191- and 182-bp fragments from the wild-type 3' allele.

Primers for the S allele were 5'-GAG GGG AAA CTA CAG CAC CTC G-3' and 5'-TGT GGG CAG CTT CTT GGT CAC CCT CAG GT-3'. Digestion with TaqI produced an uncut 117-bp fragment from the S allele and 97- and 20-bp fragments from the M allele. Genotyping for the VDBP isoforms was as described previously (22).

The subjects were genotyped for the mEH mutations by a mutiplex PCR. Primers for the exon 3 mutation were 5'-CAG GTG GAG ATT CTC AAC AGG-3' and 5'-CAC ATT GTG GAA GAA GGC TGT T-3'. Primers for the exon 4 mutation were as described previously (11). Digestion with RsaI produced an uncut 115-bp fragment from the exon 3 slow allele (His113), 94- and 21-bp fragments from the exon 3 wild-type allele (Tyr113), an uncut 210-bp fragment from the exon 4 wild-type allele (His139), and 164- and 46-bp fragments from the exon 4 fast allele (Arg139).

The subjects were genotyped for the TNF-alpha and TNF-beta mutations by a mutiplex PCR. Primers for the TNF-alpha mutation were as previously described (23). Primers for the TNF-beta mutation were 5'-TGG TGG GTT TGG TTT TGG T-3' and 5'-AGA GAA GGG GAC AAG ATG CAG T-3'. Digestion with NcoI produced an uncut 143-bp fragment from the TNF-alpha mutant allele (TNF-alpha -308A), 123- and 20-bp fragments from the TNF-alpha wild-type allele (TNF-alpha -308G), an uncut 175-bp fragment from the TNF-beta wild-type allele (TNF-beta -252A), and 88- and 87-bp fragments from the TNF-beta mutant allele (TNF-beta -252G).

The products of each PCR reaction were resolved by electrophoresis on 2% agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide. Template-free controls and known genotype controls were included in each experiment. Genotypes were scored without knowledge of the phenotypes by two independent observers. The samples were regenotyped if there was any disagreement concerning the genotyping.

Data Analysis

The frequencies of the alleles and genotypes between groups were initially compared by chi 2 analyses for 2 × 2 contingency tables. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated as previously described (24). The associations were also analyzed by binary logistic regression to adjust for potential confounding factors. The outcome was a dichotomous variable, that is, rapid decliner or nondecliner. Potential confounding factors included in the analysis were smoking history (expressed as mean number of cigarettes/d over the course of the LHS), age, sex, initial level of lung function (prebronchodilator FEV1 %predicted), and responsiveness to methacholine. The latter variable was expressed as a two-point dose-response slope as previously described (25). Only significant main effects were included in the final models and these were age, smoking history, and methacholine responsiveness. No significant two-factor interactions were found in any of the models. All tests were performed using the JMP Statistics software package (SAS Institute Inc.).

Haplotype frequencies were estimated using the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm (26), as haplotypes could not be discerned directly from double heterozygotes. The Arlequin software package was used to compute haplotype frequencies. Linkage disequilibrium (D) between pairs of loci was calculated and expressed as a percentage of its maximal value (D/Dmax) as described previously (28).


    RESULTS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

The characteristics of the study groups are shown in Table 1. All loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except for the amino acid substitution at position 416 of VDBP (p = 0.03).


                              
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TABLE 1

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUBJECTS IN THE RAPID AND NONDECLINER GROUPS

The alpha 1-AT MZ genotype was more prevalent in the rapid decliners than in the nondecliners (Table 2). In a previous study, MZ heterozygotes were shown to have an increased rate of decline of lung function only if they also had a family history of lung disease (asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema) (29). In our study, subjects with a combination of the MZ genotype and a family history of COPD were more prevalent among rapid decliners (9/283 = 3.3%) than nondecliners (1/ 308 = 0.3%) (adjusted OR = 9.7, 95% CI 1.7-184.8, p = 0.009). Family history of COPD was defined as a first-degree relative who had chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Family history alone was not associated with rate of decline of lung function (OR = 1.3, p = 0.16). The prevalences of the S and 3' polymorphisms were not significantly different between the groups (Table 2).


                              
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TABLE 2

FREQUENCY OF alpha 1-ANTITRYPSIN GENOTYPES IN THE STUDY GROUPS

There was a significant difference in mEH haplotype frequencies between the rapid decliners and nondecliners (Table 3). In addition, homozygosity for the His113-His139 haplotype was significantly increased in the rapid decliners (19/282 = 6.7%) versus the nondecliners (9/307 = 2.9%, OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.4, p = 0.03). Subjects with both His113-His139 homozygosity and a family history of COPD were more prevalent among rapid decliners (11/282 = 3.9%) than nondecliners (2/307 = 0.6%) (OR = 6.2, 95% CI 1.4-28.0, p = 0.007). However, only the combined phenotype of both His113-His139 homozygosity and a family history of COPD remained significant after adjustment for confounding variables (adjusted OR = 4.9, 95% CI 1.1-34.9, p = 0.04). There was no significant linkage disequilibrium between the two loci (D/Dmax = 1.4%, p = 0.33) despite the polymorphisms being only 6,775 bp apart.


                              
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TABLE 3

FREQUENCY OF mEH HAPLOTYPES IN THE STUDY GROUPS ESTIMATED USING THE EM ALGORITHM (26)

The prevalence of VDBP genotypes was not different between the fast decliners and nondecliners (Table 4). The different VDBP isoforms are caused by the Glu416right-arrow Asp and Thr420right-arrow Lys amino acid substitutions and there was strong linkage disequilibrium between the alleles (D/Dmax = 100%, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of TNF haplotypes was also not different between the fast decliners and nondecliners (Table 5). The TNF-alpha and TNF-beta genes are located 2,718 bp apart and substantial linkage disequilibrium (D/Dmax = 97.5%, p < 0.0001) was observed between the alleles.


                              
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TABLE 4

FREQUENCY OF VITAMIN D BINDING PROTEIN  GENOTYPES IN THE STUDY GROUPS


                              
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TABLE 5

FREQUENCY OF TNF HAPLOTYPES IN THE STUDY GROUPS ESTIMATED USING THE EM ALGORITHM (26)


    DISCUSSION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

The LHS cohort provides a unique opportunity to test susceptibility genes for rapid decline in lung function. There are very few studies of genetic factors and the rate of decline of lung function in the literature. This is due to the difficulties and expense associated with prospective study designs. Cross-sectional studies have generally defined COPD in terms of symptoms together with a certain degree of airflow obstruction (e.g., FEV1 < 70% predicted). Although cross-sectional studies are easier to perform they have certain drawbacks. First, there could be several mechanisms that lead to a low level of lung function. A patient with COPD may have experienced an abnormally high rate of decline in lung function, may not have attained the normal maximal level of lung function, or the age of onset of decline may have been abnormally early. Genetic factors may affect only one of these mechanisms. Therefore, the use of rate of decline of lung function rather than COPD as a phenotype for genetic studies may reduce the phenotypic heterogeneity and increase the power of the study. Second, cross-sectional case-control studies are more susceptible to systematic ascertainment bias and therefore to type I error. Finally, study designs using individuals from each extreme of the distribution of the phenotype of interest often have more power than random samples, depending on the mode of inheritance (30).

To our knowledge only three genetic factors (alpha 1-AT type, ABO blood type, and ABH secretor status) have been investigated using rate of decline of lung function as the outcome variable (29, 31). Beatty and coworkers found that non-Z alpha 1-AT variants and the A blood type were associated with lower rates of decline of FEV1 in women (31).

In this study we have demonstrated that the alpha 1-AT MZ genotype and the mEH His113/His139 haplotype were associated with increased rate of decline of lung function. Both of these associations were stronger when the subjects had a family history of COPD, suggesting an interaction with other familial, possibly genetic, risk factors. However, the nature of these other risk factors remains to be determined. Regression analysis was used to show that the alpha 1-AT and mEH associations were independent of known risk factors such as smoking history. This analysis also showed that there was no significant interaction of the alpha 1-AT and mEH polymorphisms on the rate of decline of lung function.

The results of previous studies of the alpha 1-AT MZ genotype and rate of decline are contradictory. Although some investigators concluded that the MZ genotype is associated with an accelerated rate of decline of lung function (29), others found no association (31). In one study, there was evidence that MZ heterozygotes had a lower rate of decline in lung function (32). These inconsistencies may be due to different selection criteria for the study subjects, different lengths of follow-up, and inclusion of different proportions of nonsmokers.

The association of the mEH slow haplotype with rate of decline is consistent with a previous study in which the highest odds ratio for COPD (4.1) was found with this haplotype. The data in the present study are the first to suggest that variants in the mEH gene predispose to COPD via an accelerated decline in lung function. This association has good biological plausibility. There are in vitro (10) and in vivo (33) data to suggest that the polymorphisms at amino acid positions 113 and 139 influence the function of the mEH protein. Thus, an individual with the His113-His139 haplotype would have a slow activity enzyme and would detoxify epoxides in cigarette smoke less readily. The presence of epoxides in the lung for longer periods could lead to greater tissue damage and inflammation.

However, the influence of these polymorphisms on the mEH protein is controversial. The results of one study indicated that the mEH polymorphisms did not account for all the variability in enzyme activity (34). In another study, the authors concluded that none of the variation in mEH activity could be attributed to the two polymorphisms (35). It has been suggested that mEH disease associations are due to linkage disequilibrium between these polymorphisms and polymorphisms in the mEH gene regulatory regions (36). Several polymorphisms have been identified in the 5' region of the mEH gene and some of these may affect the level of gene transcription (37).

There was no association of VDBP genotypes with rate of decline of lung function. The reason for the previous associations between VDBP polymorphisms and level of lung function is unknown. However, VDBP has effects on neutrophil chemotaxis and macrophage activation, two processes known to be important in the pathogenesis of COPD. In a previous study we were unable to show any difference in rate of neutrophil chemotaxis stimulated by the different VDBP isoforms (22). This suggests that the role of VDBP in macrophage activation may underlie the association found in this study. Interestingly, differences in the glycosylation of the VDBP isoforms suggest that less than 10% of the 2 isoform can be converted into a macrophage-activating factor (38). These data are consistent with a protective role for the VDBP 2 isoform.

We found no association of the TNF haplotypes with rate of decline of lung function. This result suggests that these polymorphisms in the TNF-alpha and TNF-beta genes do not contribute to susceptibility to a rapid rate of decline of lung function. This conclusion does not support the findings of a previous study (18). The lack of association may reflect genetic heterogeneity in the pathogenesis of COPD. The presence of several risk alleles for rapid decline of lung function would make replicating linkage and association studies difficult. Different risk alleles may be important in different populations. Alternatively, the lack of association may be due to differences between populations in amount or type of exposure to environmental factors. These factors may be particularly pertinent in this case as our population and the population of Huang and coworkers (18) were from different ethnic groups and different countries.

In this study we have attempted to control for potential confounders that might influence the rate of decline of lung function (age, smoking history, etc.). Another potential confounder is that some of the study subjects used an inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator in the LHS. The main objective of the LHS was to determine whether this treatment could slow the rate of decline of lung function. However, use of a bronchodilator did not influence the rate of decline and therefore was not included as a covariate in our analyses. Another potential confounding factor that affects genetic association studies is population stratification. Although we confined our analyses to the white individuals in the study, there could be genetically distinct subgroups in this population because the LHS was a multicenter study. The alpha 1-AT Z polymorphisms and the two mEH polymorphisms were all in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. This provides some evidence that the associations of these polymorphisms with rate of decline were not confounded by population structure. However, this possibility cannot be completely excluded.

In this study we have analyzed genotypic data from four separate loci and therefore it might be argued that correction for multiple comparisons is appropriate. However, for each of the polymorphisms investigated we had an a priori hypothesis of association with rate of decline of lung function. This was based on the previous associations of the polymorphisms with COPD and with changes in gene expression. Therefore, we believe that adjustment for multiple comparisons would be inappropriate and we have simply presented the statistical tests that were done.

In summary, we have demonstrated that the alpha 1-AT MZ genotype and mEH His113/His139 haplotype were associated with increased rate of decline of lung function. This association was stronger when the subjects also had a family history of COPD. There was no association of VDBP or TNF genotypes with rate of decline of lung function.


    Footnotes

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. A. J. Sandford, University of British Columbia Pulmonary Research Laboratory, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6 Canada.

(Received in original form June 29, 2000 and in revised form October 6, 2000).

Acknowledgments: Supported by the Medical Research Council. A.J.S. is supported by a Parker B. Francis fellowship.
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DISCUSSION
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M. R. Gingo, L. J. Silveira, Y. E. Miller, A. L. Friedlander, G. P. Cosgrove, E. D. Chan, L. A. Maier, and R. P. Bowler
Tumour necrosis factor gene polymorphisms are associated with COPD
Eur. Respir. J., May 1, 2008; 31(5): 1005 - 1012.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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ChestHome page
G. E. Silva, S. Guerra, S. Keim, R. A. Barbee, and D. L. Sherrill
Longitudinal Decline of Diffusing Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide in Community Subjects With the PiMZ {alpha}1-Antitrypsin Phenotype
Chest, May 1, 2008; 133(5): 1095 - 1100.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
W. MacNee
Update in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2007
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 15, 2008; 177(8): 820 - 829.
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Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Bio.Home page
D. L. DeMeo, E. J. Campbell, A. F. Barker, M. L. Brantly, E. Eden, N. G. McElvaney, S. I. Rennard, R. A. Sandhaus, J. M. Stocks, J. K. Stoller, et al.
IL10 Polymorphisms Are Associated with Airflow Obstruction in Severe {alpha}1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., January 1, 2008; 38(1): 114 - 120.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
P. Harber, D. P. Tashkin, M. Simmons, L. Crawford, E. Hnizdo, J. Connett, and for the Lung Health Study Group
Effect of Occupational Exposures on Decline of Lung Function in Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 15, 2007; 176(10): 994 - 1000.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Eur Respir JHome page
A. L. James and S. Wenzel
Clinical relevance of airway remodelling in airway diseases
Eur. Respir. J., July 1, 2007; 30(1): 134 - 155.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
D. L. DeMeo, C. P. Hersh, E. A. Hoffman, A. A. Litonjua, R. Lazarus, D. Sparrow, J. O. Benditt, G. Criner, B. Make, F. J. Martinez, et al.
Genetic Determinants of Emphysema Distribution in the National Emphysema Treatment Trial
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 2007; 176(1): 42 - 48.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Eur Respir JHome page
J-Q. He, K. Shumansky, X. Zhang, J. E. Connett, N. R. Anthonisen, and A. J. Sandford
Polymorphisms of interleukin-10 and its receptor and lung function in COPD
Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2007; 29(6): 1120 - 1126.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Occup. Environ. Med.Home page
H. Zhang, J. Hang, X. Wang, W. Zhou, B. Sun, H. Dai, L. Su, and D. C Christiani
TNF polymorphisms modify endotoxin exposure-associated longitudinal lung function decline
Occup. Environ. Med., June 1, 2007; 64(6): 409 - 413.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Eur Respir JHome page
H. M. Boezen and D. S. Postma
Tumour necrosis factor and lymphotoxin A polymorphisms: a relationship with COPD and its progression?
Eur. Respir. J., January 1, 2007; 29(1): 8 - 10.
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Eur Respir JHome page
G. Tanaka, A. J. Sandford, K. Burkett, J. E. Connett, N. R. Anthonisen, P. D. Pare, and J-Q. He
Tumour necrosis factor and lymphotoxin A polymorphisms and lung function in smokers
Eur. Respir. J., January 1, 2007; 29(1): 34 - 41.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Clin. Chem.Home page
M. Brantly
Efficient and Accurate Approaches to the Laboratory Diagnosis of {alpha}1-Antitrypsin Deficiency: The Promise of Early Diagnosis and Intervention
Clin. Chem., December 1, 2006; 52(12): 2180 - 2181.
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ThoraxHome page
K Nakayama, A Kikuchi, H Yasuda, S Ebihara, T Sasaki, T Ebihara, and M Yamaya
Heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter polymorphism and decline in lung function in Japanese men.
Thorax, October 1, 2006; 61(10): 921 - 921.
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Proc Am Thorac SocHome page
E. K. Silverman
Progress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease genetics.
Proceedings of the ATS, July 1, 2006; 3(5): 405 - 408.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
I. Petrache, I. Fijalkowska, L. Zhen, T. R. Medler, E. Brown, P. Cruz, K.-H. Choe, L. Taraseviciene-Stewart, R. Scerbavicius, L. Shapiro, et al.
A Novel Antiapoptotic Role for {alpha}1-Antitrypsin in the Prevention of Pulmonary Emphysema
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 2006; 173(11): 1222 - 1228.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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ThoraxHome page
J Gao, G Shan, B Sun, P J Thompson, and X Gao
Association between polymorphism of tumour necrosis factor {alpha}-308 gene promoter and asthma: a meta-analysis
Thorax, June 1, 2006; 61(6): 466 - 471.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
C. P. Hersh, D. L. DeMeo, R. Lazarus, J. C. Celedon, B. A. Raby, J. O. Benditt, G. Criner, B. Make, F. J. Martinez, P. D. Scanlon, et al.
Genetic Association Analysis of Functional Impairment in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 1, 2006; 173(9): 977 - 984.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
A. G. Schwartz and J. C. Ruckdeschel
Familial Lung Cancer: Genetic Susceptibility and Relationship to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 2006; 173(1): 16 - 22.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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ChestHome page
R. J. Wright
Make No Bones About It: Increasing Epidemiologic Evidence Links Vitamin D to Pulmonary Function and COPD
Chest, December 1, 2005; 128(6): 3781 - 3783.
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Eur Respir JHome page
O. Senn, E. W. Russi, M. Imboden, and N. M. Probst-Hensch
{alpha}1-Antitrypsin deficiency and lung disease: risk modification by occupational and environmental inhalants
Eur. Respir. J., November 1, 2005; 26(5): 909 - 917.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
R. Broekhuizen, R. F Grimble, W M. Howell, D. J Shale, E. C Creutzberg, E. F Wouters, and A. M Schols
Pulmonary cachexia, systemic inflammatory profile, and the interleukin 1{beta} -511 single nucleotide polymorphism
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2005; 82(5): 1059 - 1064.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Eur Respir JHome page
M. Dahl, C. P. Hersh, N. P. Ly, C. S. Berkey, E. K. Silverman, and B. G. Nordestgaard
The protease inhibitor PI*S allele and COPD: a meta-analysis
Eur. Respir. J., July 1, 2005; 26(1): 67 - 76.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Bio.Home page
C. P. Hersh, D. L. DeMeo, C. Lange, A. A. Litonjua, J. J. Reilly, D. Kwiatkowski, N. Laird, J. S. Sylvia, D. Sparrow, F. E. Speizer, et al.
Attempted Replication of Reported Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Candidate Gene Associations
Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., July 1, 2005; 33(1): 71 - 78.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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J. Med. Genet.Home page
I Ferrarotti, J Baccheschi, M Zorzetto, C Tinelli, L Corda, B Balbi, I Campo, E Pozzi, G Faa, P Coni, et al.
Prevalence and phenotype of subjects carrying rare variants in the Italian registry for alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency
J. Med. Genet., March 1, 2005; 42(3): 282 - 287.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
J. Hang, W. Zhou, X. Wang, H. Zhang, B. Sun, H. Dai, L. Su, and D. C. Christiani
Microsomal Epoxide Hydrolase, Endotoxin, and Lung Function Decline in Cotton Textile Workers
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 15, 2005; 171(2): 165 - 170.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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ChestHome page
S. Teramoto, T. Ishii, H. Yamamoto, Y. Yamaguchi, T. Matsuse, and N. A. Molfino
Xenobiotic Enzymes and Genetics of COPD
Chest, January 1, 2005; 127(1): 408 - 409.
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Proc Am Thorac SocHome page
S. I. Rennard
Antiinflammatory Therapies Other Than Corticosteroids
Proceedings of the ATS, November 1, 2004; 1(3): 282 - 287.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Bio.Home page
M. E. J. Wadsworth, L. E. Vinall, A. L. Jones, R. J. Hardy, D. B. Whitehouse, S. L. Butterworth, W. S. Hilder, J. U. Lovegrove, and D. M. Swallow
Alpha1-Antitrypsin as a Risk for Infant and Adult Respiratory Outcomes in a National Birth Cohort
Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., November 1, 2004; 31(5): 559 - 564.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]