[Association between polymorphisms in the microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) gene and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between polymorphisms in the microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) gene and susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a Chinese population.


METHODS
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were performed to genotype mEH polymorphisms in exon3 (Tyr113-->His) and exon4 (His139-->Arg) in 100 COPD patients and 100 age and sex matched healthy controls.


RESULTS
(1) The proportion of mEH heterozygotes in exon3 was significantly higher in the patients with COPD than that in the control subjects (42% vs 32%). The odds ratio (OR) adjusted by age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and cigarettes years was 2.96 (95% CI 1.24 - 7.09). (2) There was no marked difference in very slow activity genotype versus other genotypes between COPD patients and controls. (3) When COPD patients were nonsmokers, the OR of very slow activity genotype versus other genotypes was more than 1.00, and when COPD patients were smokers (Current smokers and ex-smokers), the OR was less than 1.00.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) mEH heterozygotes in exon3 might be associated with the susceptibility to COPD in China. (2) The interaction might be existed between mEH genotype and smoke.
Xiao
Dan
D
Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100020, China.
Wang
Chen
C
Du
Min-jie
MJ
Pang
Bao-sen
BS
Zhang
Hong-yu
HY
Xiao
Bai
B
Liu
Jing-zhong
JZ
Weng
Xin-zhi
XZ
Su
Li
L
Christiani
David C
DC
D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000235:genetics*; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism
D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases