SERPINA1 PiZ and PiS heterozygotes and lung function decline in the SAPALDIA cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Severe alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a strong risk factor for COPD. But the impact of gene variants resulting in mild or intermediate AAT deficiency on the longitudinal course of respiratory health remains controversial. There is indication from experimental studies that pro-inflammatory agents like cigarette smoke can interact with these variants and thus increase the risk of adverse respiratory health effects. Therefore, we tested the effect of the presence of a protease inhibitor (Pi) S or Z allele (PiMS and PiMZ) on the change in lung function in different inflammation-exposed subgroups of a large, population-based cohort study.

Methodology and principal findings

The SAPALDIA population includes over 4600 subjects from whom SERPINA1 genotypes for S an

SUBMITTER: Thun GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3418297 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature