GPR126 polymorphisms were associated with FEV1/FVC at genome-wide significance in CHARGE and in the joint meta-analysis with SpiroMeta. GPR126 belongs to a superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors involved in cell adhesion and signaling39. While its precise function has not been elucidated, its expression in mice is temporally increased during embryonic organ development and is highest in the adult lung40. In humans, recent GWA studies have linked GPR126 variants with adult height, and more specifically, with trunk height41–43. We adjusted all analyses for standing height. Therefore, we repeated analyses for GPR126 SNPs adjusting for sitting height (a more reliable indicator of trunk height) in ARIC, where both height variables were measured, and associations with FEV1/FVC remained significant. Thus, these associations are not likely due to residual confounding by trunk height.
