TY - JOUR T1 - The European Alpha-1 Research Collaboration (EARCO): a new ERS Clinical Research Collaboration to promote research in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.00138-2019 VL - 53 IS - 2 SP - 1900138 AU - Marc Miravitlles AU - Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko AU - Ilaria Ferrarotti AU - Noel G. McElvaney AU - Karen O'Hara AU - Jan Stolk AU - Robert A. Stockley AU - Alice Turner AU - Marion Wilkens AU - Timm Greulich A2 - , Y1 - 2019/02/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/53/2/1900138.abstract N2 - Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a common but under-recognised genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in 2000 to 1 in 5000 individuals and predisposes to early-onset emphysema and liver disease [1]. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is mainly produced in the liver, and its main function is to protect the lung against proteolytic damage, especially from neutrophil elastase [2]. To date, more than 100 variant alleles of the AAT gene (SERPINA1) have been described, but the Z allele is the most prevalent and responsible for severe AATD leading to lung and liver disease [3].The European Alpha-1 Research Collaboration (EARCO) will promote international research in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency http://ow.ly/DWwg30nwCj4We want to acknowledge the support from Elise Heuvelin and Cèline Genton (European Respiratory Society, Lausanne, Switzerland) in the logistics and organisation of EARCO. ER -