eAbstract: Meta-analyses on Suspected Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Genes: A Summary of 20 Years' Research
These researchers found that ethnicity is an important factor in identifying specific COPD genes.
Journal: Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (October 1, 2009)
Authors: Smolonska J, Wijmenga C, Postma DS, Marike Boezen H
Purpose: Because “studies on the role of candidate genes and their polymorphisms in COPD development have so far produced ambiguous results,” researchers sought “to reveal the role of COPD candidate genes using data collected in previous research.”
Results: Researchers “performed meta-analyses on 20 polymorphisms in 12 genes, after searching the PubMed and Embase databases for publications on COPD” and “obtained significant results for three TGFB1 polymorphisms, although these were based only on a few studies…The IL1RN VNTR polymorphism increases the risk for COPD…whereas the TNFA —308 G/A polymorphism does so only in Asian populations…The GSTP1 I105V polymorphism was protective for COPD in Asian populations only…These results demonstrate the importance of ethnicity in identifying specific COPD genes.”
