The cyclooxygenase-2-765C promoter polymorphism protects against the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
BACKGROUND
Susceptibility to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has a genetic component. We undertook a study to determine if a genetic variant of the gene encoding the cyclooxygenase-2 gene influences the likelihood of developing COPD.


METHODS
In a case control study the frequency of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of the cyclooxygenase-2 gene (-765 G → C) was determined in 205 subjects with COPD, 171 chronic smokers with normal lung function (resistant smokers) and 95 healthy blood donors using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism.


RESULTS
The frequency of the C allele of the -765 cyclooxygenase-2 polymorphism was higher in resistant smokers (24.6%) compared with subjects with COPD (14.4%, OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.28-3.06, p = 0.003) and blood donors (14.7%, OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.14-3.41, p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
The -765C allele, which has been shown to be associated with decreased promoter activity of the cyclooxygenase-2 gene, is more common in resistant smokers. This raises the possibility that decreased activity of cyclooxygenase-2 may protect smokers against the development of COPD.
Wu
Lian
L
Department of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. l.wu@auckland.ac.nz
Merrilees
Mervyn
M
Young
Robert P
RP
Black
Peter N
PN
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human