Genetic Variants Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Risk: Cumulative Epidemiological Evidence from Meta-Analyses and Genome-Wide Association Studies

Tumor necrosis factor‑α ‑308 G/A genetic polymorphism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presenting with hyperactive airways

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. COPD is often diagnosed late in the disease leading to a delay in management. Notably, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) polymorphisms may serve an important role in the development of COPD. A single-center, case-control study was conducted to determine the presence of the TNF-α -308 G/A polymorphism among patients diagnosed with COPD presenting with hyperactive airways, patients without COPD presenting with hyperactive airways, and normal study participants without pulmonary comorbidities. Three genotypes: G/G (94%; 157/167), G/A (5%; 9/167) and A/A (1%; 1/167) were detected by quantitative PCR. The present study showed that the presence of the TNF-α -308 G/A polymorphism reduced the odds of having hyperactive airways with COPD by 29.3% and hyperactive airways without COPD by 26.3%. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that having the TNF-α -308 G/A polymorphism did not significantly reduce the odds of having hyperactive airways with COPD and without COPD compared to those with the G/G genotype. In conclusion, the presence of the TNF-α -308 G/A gene polymorphism showed no significant association with patients with COPD with or without hyperactive airways. The presence of the TNF-α -308 G/A polymorphism instead had a weak association with the reduction in the development of COPD regardless of the presence or absence of airway hyperactivity.

sRAGE levels are decreased in plasma and sputum of COPD secondary to biomass-burning smoke and tobacco smoking: Differences according to the rs3134940 AGER variant

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and its gene (AGER) have been related to lung injury and inflammatory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to evaluate the association of rs2071288, rs3134940, rs184003, and rs2070600 AGER single-nucleotide variants and the soluble-RAGE plasma and sputum levels with COPD secondary to biomass-burning smoke (BBS) and tobacco smoking. Four groups, including 2189 subjects, were analyzed: COPD secondary to BBS exposure (COPD-BBS, n = 342), BBS-exposed subjects without COPD (BBES, n = 774), tobacco smoking-induced COPD (COPD-TS, n = 434), and smokers without COPD (SWOC, n = 639). Allelic discrimination assays determined the AGER variants. The sRAGE was quantified in plasma (n = 240) and induced-sputum (n = 72) samples from a subgroup of patients using the ELISA technique. In addition, a meta-analysis was performed for the association of rs2070600 with COPD susceptibility. None of the studied genetic variants were found to be associated with COPD-BBS or COPD-TS. A marginal association was observed for the rs3134940 with COPD-BBS (p = 0.066). The results from the meta-analysis, including six case-control studies (n = 4149 subjects), showed a lack of association of rs2070600 with COPD susceptibility (p = 0.681), probably due to interethnic differences. The sRAGE plasma levels were lower in COPD-BBS compared to BBS and in COPD-TS compared to SWOC. The sRAGE levels were also lower in sputum samples from COPD-BBS than BBES. Subjects with rs3134940-TC genotypes exhibit lower sRAGE plasma levels than TT subjects, mainly from the COPD-BBS and SWOC groups. The AGER variants were not associated with COPD-BBS nor COPD-TS, but the sRAGE plasma and sputum levels are related to both COPD-BBS and COPD-TS and are influenced by the rs3134940 variant.

The genomic landscape of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Insights from nutrigenomics

Chronic obstructivе pulmonary disеasе (COPD), a rеspiratory disеasе, is influenced by a combination of gеnеtic and еnvironmеntal factors. Thе fiеld of nutrigеnomics, which studiеs thе intеrplay bеtwееn diеt and gеnеs, provides valuable insights into thе gеnomic landscapе of COPD and its implications for production and managеmеnt. This rеviеw providеs a comprеhеnsivе ovеrviеw of thе gеnеtic aspеcts of COPD and thе rolе of nutrigеnomics in advancing our undеrstanding of thе undеrlying mеchanisms. Through studies of gеnomе-widе associations, researchers have identified gеnеtic factors that contribute to suscеptibility to COPD. Thеsе gеnеs arе associatеd with oxidativе strеss, inflammation, and antioxidant dеfеnsе mеchanisms. Nutrigеnomics rеsеarch is currеntly invеstigating how diеtary componеnts interact with gеnеtic variations to modulatе thе dеvеlopmеnt of COPD. Antioxidants, omеga-3 fatty acids and vitamin D havе dеmonstratеd potеntial bеnеfits in rеducing inflammation, improving lung function, and minimizing еxacеrbations in patients with COPD. Therefore, there are sеvеral challеngеs that must be added to the nutrigеnomic rеsеarch. The challenges include thе nееd for largеr clinical trials, adding hеtеrogеnеity and validating biomarkеrs. In the tеrms of futurе dirеctions, prеcision nutrition, gеnе-basеd thеrapiеs, biomarkеr dеvеlopmеnt, intеgration of multi-omics data, systеms biology analysis, longitudinal studiеs, and public hеalth implications arе important arеas to еxplorе. Pеrsonalizеd nutritional intеrvеntions based on an individual's gеnеtic profilе hold grеat promisе for optimizing COPD managеmеnt. In conclusion, nutrigеnomics provides valuable insights into the gеnomic landscapе of COPD and its intеraction with the disease. This knowlеdgе can guidе thе dеvеlopmеnt of pеrsonalizеd diеtary stratеgiеs and gеnе-basеd thеrapiеs for thе prеvеntion and managеmеnt of COPD. Howеvеr, morе rеsеarch is nееdеd to validatе thеsе findings, dеvеlop еffеctivе intеrvеntions, and implеmеnt thеm еffеctivеly in clinical practicе to improvе thе quality of lifе for pеoplе with COPD.

Impact of Lung-Related Polygenic Risk Scores on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Risk and Their Interaction with w-3 Fatty Acid Intake in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex, progressive respiratory disorder with persistent airflow limitation and tissue destruction. We aimed to explore the genetic impact of COPD and its interaction with nutrient intake in 8840 middle-aged and elderly individuals from the Ansan/Ansung cohorts. Participants were diagnosed with COPD if the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) was less than 0.7 using spirometry, and if they were previously diagnosed with COPD by a physician. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed to screen for genetic variants associated with COPD risk. Among them, we selected the genetic variants that exhibited interactions using the generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) method. The polygenic risk score (PRS) was computed by summing the number of risk alleles in the SNP-SNP interaction models that adhered to specific rules. Subsequently, participants were categorized into low-PRS, medium-PRS, and high-PRS groups. The participants with COPD exhibited significantly lower FEV1/FVC ratios (0.64) than those without COPD (0.82). It was positively associated with inflammation markers (serum C-reactive protein and white blood cell levels). A higher proportion of COPD participants were smokers and engaged in regular exercise. The 5-SNP model consisted of FAM13A_rs1585258, CAV1_rs1997571, CPD_rs719601, PEPD_rs10405598, and ITGA1_rs889294, and showed a significant association with COPD risk (p < 0.001). Participants in the high-PRS group of this model had a 2.2-fold higher risk of COPD than those in the low-PRS group after adjusting for covariates. The PRS interacted with w-3 fatty acid intake and exercise, thus influencing the risk of COPD. There was an increase in COPD incidence among individuals with a higher PRS, particularly those with low consumption of w-3 fatty acid and engaged in high levels of exercise. In conclusion, adults with a high-PRS are susceptible to COPD risk, and w-3 fatty acid intake and exercise may impact the risk of developing COPD, potentially applying to formulate precision medicines to prevent COPD.

GC1f Vitamin D Binding Protein Isoform as a Marker of Severity in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical, behavioral, and cognitive manifestations. It is, therefore, crucial to investigate possible biomarkers associated with specific ASD phenotypes. Ample literature suggests a possible role for vitamin D (VD) in influencing ASD clinical phenotypes. We analyzed three vitamin D binding protein gene (DBP) functional polymorphisms (rs2282679, rs7041, and rs4588), which are involved in the modulation of vitamin D serum concentration in 309 ASD children and 831 healthy controls. Frequency comparisons of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) alleles, genotypes, and GC isoforms (GC1f, G1s, and GC2)—generated by the combination of rs7041 and rs4588 alleles—were correlated with ASD diagnostic, behavioral, and functioning scales. The GC1f isoform was significantly more frequent in ASD compared with controls (18.6% vs. 14.5% pc = 0.02). Significantly higher scores for item 15 of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and lower ones for the Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) functioning scales were seen in ASD carrying the GC1f isoform. In GC phenotype analysis, a gradient of severity for overall CARS scores and CARS item 15 was observed, with scores decreasing according to the presence of GC1f-GC1f > GC1f-GC1s > GC1s-GC1s > GC1f-GC2 > GC2-GC2 isoforms. Similarly, lower CGAS scores were seen in carriers of the GC1f-GC1f isoform, whereas higher scores were present in those carrying GC2-GC2 (p = 0.028). This is the first study to evaluate possible relationships between GC variants and the different aspects of ASD in Italian ASD children. Results, although needing to be validated in ampler cohorts, suggest that the GC1f isoform could be a marker of severity in ASD that may be useful in establishing the intensity of therapeutic and rehabilitative protocols.