UCLA

Background

The genetic risk factors for susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are still largely unknown. Additional genetic variants are likely to be identified by genome-wide association studies in larger cohorts or specific subgroups. We sought to identify risk loci for moderate to severe and severe COPD with data from several cohort studies.

Methods

We combined genome-wide association analysis data from participants in the COPDGene study (non-Hispanic white and African-American ethnic origin) and the ECLIPSE, NETT/NAS, and Norway GenKOLS studies (self-described white ethnic origin). We did analyses comparing control individuals with individuals with moderate to severe COPD and with a subset of individuals with severe COPD. Single nucleotide polymorphisms yielding a p value of less than 5 × 10(-7) in the meta-analysis at loci not previously described were genotyped in individuals from the family-based ICGN study. We combined results in a joint meta-analysis (threshold for significance p<5 × 10(-8)).

Findings

Analysis of 6633 individuals with moderate to severe COPD and 5704 control individuals confirmed association at three known loci: CHRNA3 (p=6·38 × 10(-14)), FAM13A (p=1·12 × 10(-14)), and HHIP (p=1·57 × 10(-12)). We also showed significant evidence of association at a novel locus near RIN3 (p=5·25 × 10(-9)). In the overall meta-analysis (ie, including data from 2859 ICGN participants), the association with RIN3 remained significant (p=5·4 × 10(-9)). 3497 individuals were included in our analysis of severe COPD. The effect estimates for the loci near HHIP and CHRNA3 were significantly stronger in severe disease than in moderate to severe disease (p<0·01). We also identified associations at two additional loci: MMP12 (overall joint meta-analysis p=2·6 × 10(-9)) and TGFB2 (overall joint meta-analysis p=8·3 × 10(-9)).

Interpretation

We have confirmed associations with COPD at three known loci and identified three new genome-wide significant associations. Genetic variants other than in α-1 antitrypsin increase the risk of COPD.

Funding

US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the Alpha-1 Foundation; the COPD Foundation through contributions from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Sepracor; GlaxoSmithKline; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; and US Department of Veterans Affairs.