Array-based Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) Reveals Chromosomal Aberrations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Preliminary Study

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a complex disease with varying susceptibility. COPD development may be associated with copy number variation (CNV) in susceptible genomic regions. CNV also contributes to COPD heritability as these can cause changes in DNA fragment. CNVs in COPD smokers and COPD ex-smokers have not been examined so far. Thus, genome-wide array based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was performed in COPD (n = 15) and control subjects (n = 13) to identify the vulnerable candidate genes for genetic susceptibility and CNVs in smoker (n = 6) and ex-smoker (n = 9) COPD and compare it with control subjects to identify the candidate genes potentially involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. Copy number gains and losses were detected in several chromosomal regions. Chromosomal regions found to be consistently associated with both subgroups of COPD, as well as, of control group were: 2p11.2, 4q13.2, 8p23.1, 8p11.22, 12p13.31 and 14q32.33. Chromosomal regions associated with COPD were 11p15.5, 15q11.1-q11.2 and Xq28, which had several genes, (viz., CHECK2P2, HERC2P3, GOLGA6L6 and GOLGA8CP) which were associated with COPD smokers, while several other genes (viz., LICAM, LCA10, AVPR2, GDI1, HOTS and H19) were found to be associated with COPD ex-smokers. These loci and genes may be explored further for their potential use as predictive markers and better understanding of pathophysiology of COPD.