PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Simona E. Budulac AU - Dirkje S. Postma AU - Pieter S. Hiemstra AU - Thérèse S. Lapperre AU - Judith M. Vonk AU - Wim Timens AU - Henriette A. Smit AU - H. Marike Boezen TI - <em>Hedgehog-interacting protein</em> (<em>HHIP</em>) polymorphisms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - p314 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p314.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p314.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - Genome wide association studies (GWAs) have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the region of Hedgehog interacting protein (HHIP) to be associated with COPD, level of lung function and height in the general population. We aim to investigate the association of rs1032295 and rs13147758 with lung function level and decline in subjects from the general population, as well as the association with lung function level and decline and small airways function in subjects with established COPD.Two SNPs rs1032295 and rs13147758 in the HHIP region were genotyped in 1,152 subjects from the general population (Doetinchem) and 110 COPD patients (GLUCOLD). Associations of the SNPs with lung function level and small airways function (FEV1 and FEF25-75%) at baseline were analyzed using linear regression. For the longitudinal analyses of the same parameters we used linear mixed-effect models.Within smokers from the general population individuals homozygote for rs13147758 had a significantly higher FEV1 level compared to wild-type individuals B (95%CI) = 163.4 ml (14.7-312.1). COPD patients heterozygote for rs13147758 had significantly smaller FEV1 decline, i.e. 2.7 ml/yr (0.7-4.8) less decline, than wild-type individuals. None of the SNPs was significantly associated with FEF25-75% level or decline.This study suggests that rs13147758 in the HHIP region is associated with the maximum achieved lung function level in the general population but not with lung function decline. Moreover, SNPs in the HHIP region associated significantly with less lung function decline in individuals with established COPD patients, suggesting a possible protective effect of the gene in COPD patients.