Polymorphisms of the beta2-adrenergic receptor in COPD in association with disease severity

Introduction: Although COPD is not a disease which is coupled to a single gene defect rather being a disease based on numerous grounds various gene polymorphisms have been found and linked to the development and disease severity of COPD. The ß2-adrenergic receptor is a positional candidate gene for asthma and possible also for COPD, located on 5q31–33. There are 9 known polymorphisms in this gene whereas the ADRB2 haplotype allele and the Arg(16) polymorphism appears to be important in determining the agonist drug response. Other studies suggest a gene-environment interaction between the Arg-16 genotype and ever…