title: Functional variants of antioxidant genes in smokers with COPD and in those with normal lung function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predominantly the consequence of chronic smoking exposure, but its development may be influenced by genetic variants that affect lung remodelling, inflammation, and defence from oxidant stress. A study was undertaken to determine whether genetic variants within genes encoding the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase may be associated with the development of impaired lung function.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case-control study, the allele and genotype frequencies of functional polymorphisms from SOD1 (CuZnSOD), SOD2 (MnSOD), SOD3 (extracellular SOD), and catalase (CAT) were compared in chronic smokers with normal lung function (resistant smokers) and in those with COPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher frequencies of the G allele and CG/GG genotype of the 213 SOD3 polymorphism were found in resistant smokers (odds ratios (ORs) 4.3 (95% CI 1.5 to 13.3) and 4.2, 95% CI 1.4 to 13.3), Bonferroni corrected p = 0.02 and p = 0.02, respectively) than in those with COPD. There were no differences between the COPD and resistant smokers for the SOD1, SOD2, or CAT polymorphisms tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 213Gly variant of the SOD3 gene may, through antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects, confer a degree of resistance in some smokers to the development of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eddy
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000502:physiology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase