Protective Role of Genetic Variants in HSP90 Genes-Complex in COPD Secondary to Biomass-Burning Smoke Exposure and Non-Severe COPD Forms in Tobacco Smoking Subjects.

BACKGROUND

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disease characterized by airflow obstruction, commonly present in smokers and subjects exposed to noxious particles product of biomass-burning smoke (BBS). Several association studies have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in coding genes related to the heat shock proteins family-genes that codify the heat shock proteins (Hsp). Hsp accomplishes critical roles in regulating immune response, antigen-processing, eliminating protein aggregates and co-activating receptors. The presence of SNPs in these genes can lead to alterations in immune responses. We aimed to evaluate the association of SNPs in the HSP90 gene complex and COPD.

METHODS

We enrolled 1549 participants, divided into two comparison groups; 919 tobacco-smoking subjects (cases COPD-TS n = 294 and, controls SWOC n = 625) and 630 chronic exposed to BBS (cases COPD-BBS n = 186 and controls BBES n = 444). We genotyped 2 SNPs: the rs13296 in and rs2070908 in .

RESULTS

Through the dominant model (GC + CC), the rs2070908 is associated with decreased risk ( < 0.01, OR = 0.6) to suffer COPD among chronic exposed BBS subjects. We found an association between rs13296 GG genotype and lower risk ( = 0.01, OR = 0.22) to suffer severe COPD-TS forms in the severity analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

single-nucleotide variants in the and genes are associated with decreased COPD risk in subjects exposed to BBS and the most severe forms of COPD in tobacco-smoking subjects.