Genome-wide association study identifies TH1 pathway genes associated with lung function in asthmatic patients

Recent meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies in general populations of European descent have identified 28 loci for lung function. We sought to identify novel lung function loci specifically for asthma and to confirm lung function loci identified in general populations. Genome-wide association studies of lung function (percent predicted FEV1 [ppFEV1], percent predicted forced vital capacity, and FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio) were performed in 4 white populations of European descent (n = 1544), followed by meta-analyses. Seven of 28 previously identified lung function loci (HHIP, FAM13A, THSD4, GSTCD, NOTCH4-AGER, RARB, and ZNF323) identified in general populations were confirmed at single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) levels (P