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SERPINE2 and COPD

The article on SERPINE2 by Zhu and colleagues (1) provides convincing observations regarding the implication of the SERPINE2 gene in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the information provided regarding the two "populations" they studied is scanty, even in the online supplement. The first dataset is composed of middle-aged probands and siblings with COPD from various geographic locations through a network of at least six countries; the mode of ascertainment and phenotypic description do not seem to have been reported until now. The other dataset is a case-control population from Bergen, Norway, an already well-studied population regarding the epidemiology of COPD. Although the authors used genomic controls to address potential population stratification, it would be of interest to provide the geographic distribution of the families studied, including a table with lung function and smoking.

Is there any overlap with populations already described in the literature? Were probands recruited in hospitals, in the general population, or in a combination of these? How many of their siblings were contacted and participated? More descriptive information regarding ICGN subjects (such as lung function and smoking according to gender) would be useful to interpret the results. The authors stated that the center from which the patients came was adjusted for in the PBAT analysis. Were results consistent across countries of ascertainment? Providing these answers would strengthen the conclusions of the paper. Further, it would be interesting to know in relation to the known sex-specific dysanapsis whether results regarding FEV₁/FVC were similar in men and women.

Francine Kauffmann

INSERM, U780, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Villejuif Cedex, France

FOOTNOTES

Conflict of Interest Statement: F.K. has received a research grant from Merck, Sharp & Dohme in 2002 of 720,000 for the follow-up of a study on the genetics of asthma and received 1,700 as conference fee from Boehringer Ingelheim in 2006.

REFERENCES

1. Zhu G, Warren L, Aponte J, Gulsvik A, Bakke P, Anderson WH, Lomas DA, Silverman EK, Pillai SG. The International COPD Genetics Network (ICGN) Investigators, The SERPINE2 gene is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in two large populations. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007;176:167–173.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

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