Association of genetic variations in the CSF2 and CSF3 genes with lung function in smoking-induced COPD

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF), also known as CSF2, and granulocyte CSF, also known as CSF3, are important survival and proliferation factors for neutrophils and macrophages. The objective of the present study was to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CSF2 and CSF3 are associated with lung function in smoking-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In total, five SNPs of CSF2 and CSF3 were studied in 587 non-Hispanic white subjects with the fastest (n = 281) or the slowest (n = 306) decline of lung function selected from among continuous smokers in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Lung Health Study (LHS). These SNPs were also studied in 1,074 non-Hispanic white subjects with the lowest (n = 536) or the highest (n = 538) baseline lung function at the beginning of the LHS. An increase in the number of CSF3 -1719T alleles was significantly associated with protection against low lung function (odds ratio 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.56-0.95), and was still significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. There was also a significant association of a CSF3 haplotype with baseline levels of forced expiratory volume in one second. No association was found for CSF2 SNPs and lung function, nor was there evidence of epistasis. In conclusion, genetic variation in colony-stimulating factor 3 is associated with cross-sectionally measured lung function in smokers.