Genetic Risk Factors in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD)

Abstract

COPD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the adult population. The major risk factor of COPD is, undoubtedly, cigarette smoking. In a significant proportion of smokers clinically significant airflow obstruction develops. Exogenous factors outside the meeting, increasing susceptibility to disease and genetic factors in the development of the disease is thought to play an important role.Apart from the contribution by the well-recognized α-1 antitrypsin deficiency, the genetic basis of COPD is poorly understood. However, many genes are thought to be associated with COPD. The most important ones are α-1-antitrypsin (AAT), α-1-antichymotrypsin (AACT), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1), glutathione S-transferase (GST), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF ) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). [Archives Medical Review Journal 2010; 19(3.000): 168-179