Functional Polymorphisms of the Cyclooxygenase-2 Gene and Risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Japanese Population

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD）is characterized by chronic inflammation. Cyclooxygenase-2（COX-2） plays a very important role　in the progress of inflammation. Several potentially　functional polymorphisms of the COX-2 gene were　identified and proposed to be associated with COPD　susceptibility. In this study, we aimed to investigate　a possible association between COX-2（-765G>C;-1195G>A） polymorphisms and the risk of COPD　in the Japanese population. COX-2 gene polymorphisms　were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism（PCRRFLP）
in 103 Japanese patients with COPD and　129 healthy controls. The distributions of genotypes　and alleles were compared by using the χ2 test.　The odds ratios（OR） and 95% confidence intervals　（95%CI） were calculated by a logistic regression　analysis. The frequencies of the GG, GC, CC genotypes　of COX-2-765G>C and GG, GA, AA genotypes
of COX-2-1195G>A in the COPD group were　94.2%, 5.8%, 0.0% and 14.6%, 40.8%, 44.6%, respectively.　These frequencies in control group were　89.1%, 10.9%, 0.0% and 23.3%, 44.9%, 31.8%, respectively.　The COX-2-1195AA was more prevalent　in the COPD group（44.6%） than the control group　（31.8%）. The distribution of the -765C was higher
in the control group（5.5%） in comparison to the　COPD group（2.9%）. In conclusion, the COX-2-1195AA genotype was associated with an increased　risk for COPD in the Japanese population.