Defining the genetic contribution and functional role to altered lung function of genes identified by GWAS meta-analysis

慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）是一种常见的疾病原因，主要发生在吸烟者身上，导致咳嗽和呼吸困难加剧，每年在英国造成3万人死亡。人们认识到遗传在COPD的发展中起着重要作用，最近我们发现三个基因（谷胱甘肽S转移酶CD （GSTCD）、HTR4和AGER）的遗传变异是肺功能异常和COPD发展的危险因素。该研究计划的目的是找出这些基因在肺中的作用，确定这些基因的遗传变异性如何改变肺功能，并评估不同的遗传变异如何促进气道疾病的发展，最初以COPD为重点。

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common cause of illness, occuring mostly in smokers, which results in worsening cough and breathlessness and which is responsible for 30,000 deaths per year in the UK. It is recognised that genetics plays a role in the development of COPD, and recently we have identified that genetic variants in three genes called glutathione S transferase CD (GSTCD), HTR4 and AGER are risk factors for the development of abnormal lung function and COPD. The aims of this programme of research are to find out the role of these genes in the lungs, to determine how genetic variability in these genes alters lung function, and to assess how different genetic variants contribute to the development of airways disease focusing initially on COPD.