title: Lack of association of human leukocyte antigen-B7 with COPD and rate of decline in lung function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although variation in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus is associated with various diseases, there have been a limited number of studies that have examined the possible role of HLA in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Only HLA-B7 has been shown to be correlated with low forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) in Caucasians; however, this finding has not been replicated. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of the HLA-B7 allele to COPD and to rate of decline of lung function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the prevalence of HLA-B7 in a group of COPD patients and a non-obstructed control group of smokers by using a polymerase chain reaction-based genotyping assay. We also determined the prevalence of HLA-B7 in smokers selected from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Lung Health Study for having the fastest and slowest decline of lung function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found in the frequency of HLA-B7 between the COPD and non-obstructed groups. There was also no significant association of HLA-B7 with rate of decline of lung function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that HLA-B7 does not contribute to COPD or rate of decline of FEV1 in smokers.
authors.affiliation: The James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre, University of British Columbia, St Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Ikuma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kasuga
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Connett
authors.forename: Nicholas R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Anthonisen
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sandford
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D015793:HLA-B7 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D015793:HLA-B7 Antigen; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi