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Multi-ancestry genome-wide association analyses improve resolution of genes and pathways influencing lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Izquierdo, Abril G 
Packer, Richard 
Hall, Robert J 

Abstract

Lung-function impairment underlies chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and predicts mortality. In the largest multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of lung function to date, comprising 580,869 participants, we identified 1,020 independent association signals implicating 559 genes supported by ≥2 criteria from a systematic variant-to-gene mapping framework. These genes were enriched in 29 pathways. Individual variants showed heterogeneity across ancestries, age and smoking groups, and collectively as a genetic risk score showed strong association with COPD across ancestry groups. We undertook phenome-wide association studies for selected associated variants as well as trait and pathway-specific genetic risk scores to infer possible consequences of intervening in pathways underlying lung function. We highlight new putative causal variants, genes, proteins and pathways, including those targeted by existing drugs. These findings bring us closer to understanding the mechanisms underlying lung function and COPD, and should inform functional genomics experiments and potentially future COPD therapies.

Description

Funder: British Lung Foundation


Funder: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

Keywords

Humans, Lung, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, Smoking, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Journal Title

Nat Genet

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1061-4036
1546-1718

Volume Title

55

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MR/P009581/1)