We have also attempted to address the issue of genetic factors that influence smoking behavior. We did not observe any association with the CHRNA3-CHRNA5-CHRNB4 locus previously reported to be associated with cigarette smoke exposure, lung cancer, peripheral arterial disease31 and COPD10 (rs1051730, P = 0.23 for FEV1 and 0.56 for FEV1/FVC). The associations we show in GSTCD, TNS1, HTR4, THSD4 and AGER do not seem to be attenuated by adjustment for qualitative or quantitative adjustments for smoking exposure. None of these loci have been implicated in published GWAS of smoking quantity, although a recent report suggested a role for TSHD4 variants in smoking cessation32.
